The last time India toured England for a Test series, in 2021, the tour was uniquely split into two phases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After four compelling Tests, India led 2-1, raising hopes of a historic series victory. However, a COVID-19 outbreak within the Indian camp led to the indefinite postponement of the final Test. This deciding match was eventually played ten months later, where England mounted a remarkable comeback, chasing down a target of 378 in the fourth innings, resulting in a 2-2 series draw. This outcome was a bitter pill for India, as a series win would have marked their first Test series win on English soil since 2007, and would have meant holding simultaneous away series wins in both Australia and England, a feat never before achieved by an Indian team.
Several factors contributed to India's inability to clinch the series. One significant aspect was the weather. In the first Test at Trent Bridge, India, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah's impressive nine-wicket match haul, were in a strong position, chasing a target of just 209 with the score at 52 for 1 at the end of day 4. However, the final day was washed out due to rain, denying India a likely victory.
India's victories in the series were hard-fought. At Lord's, despite England eking out a 37-run first-innings lead, India fought back. A defining moment was when Bumrah bowled a few short balls to James Anderson, which seemed to provoke the English bowlers. India capitalized on this, transforming a precarious 209 for 8 to 298 for 8 before Virat Kohli declared. Kohli memorably instructed his bowlers to make England "feel hell" for the next 60 overs, and they responded, securing a memorable win. In the fourth Test at the Oval, after trailing by 99 runs after the first innings, a superb century by Rohit Sharma helped India post a formidable 466 in their second innings, setting up a 157-run victory.
England's eventual comeback was largely fueled by an extraordinary performance of 'Bazball'. In the rescheduled fifth Test, Jonny Bairstow's twin centuries were instrumental in England's successful chase of 378. The Indian bowlers struggled to contain the aggressive English batting, and the absence of key players due to injury and COVID-19 further weakened the team.
Looking back, the series was a missed opportunity for India. Despite leading for most of the series, they failed to capitalize on crucial moments and were ultimately undone by a combination of weather, resilient English batting, and the unfortunate COVID-19 outbreak. The series remains a testament to the unpredictable nature of Test cricket and the fine margins that often determine the outcome.
