5 Best India vs England Test Matches: The series is beautifully poised with India leading the series 2-1. India was in with a golden chance to win the series but owing to unforeseen circumstances as the last Test had to be called off. The fifth and the final Test will now be played on July 1 at Edgbaston. India hunting for a series win in England after 15 years will be up against a rejuvenated England. The home side has been breathing fire with a whitewash (3-0) over WTC champions, New Zealand. It will make for a fascinating Test.
We Look At The 5 Best India vs England Test Matches Ever Played:
#5 Edgbaston, 2018
India under Virat Kohli was in the first year of their overseas sojourn. The matchups were pretty even ahead of the series. Many experts had even tipped India to be a slight favorite. The first Test match was arguably the best of the lot. It was a seesaw battle right from the ball. The match went right down to the wire with England winning a close game. Ben Stokes lived up to his billing as a fine allrounder while Kohli laid to rest the demons of England with a sizzling century.
#4 Lords, 2014
India had tough two overseas tours before they landed up in England. They had lost two successive overseas series against South Africa (0-1) and New Zealand (0-1). India fought admirably in the first Test against England of the five-match series. England put India in to bat on a tough Lords wicket. India was 145-7 but Ajinkya Rahane’s masterly century helped India post a sizeable total. England looked to be heading towards safety in the fourth innings. But a sharp spell of short-pitched bowling from Ishant Sharma bought England to the mat. It was India’s first win overseas in 3 years.
#3 The Oval, 2021
England had all the momentum going into the fourth Test of the series having won the 3rd Test quite comfortably. They put India in after winning the toss. India stumbled their way to 191 conceding a lead of 99. But their batters came to the party in the third innings with Rohit Sharma scoring a brilliant century. India set England an improbable total of 368. England couldn’t survive the fifth day. India for the first time since 1986 won two Tests in a single series against England in England.
#2 Chennai, 2008
England returned to India post the tough circumstances that forced them to leave the tour haphazardly earlier. They were in a commanding position for the major part of the Chennai Test. England had set a target of 387 in the final innings. To chase a score of anything above 200 in the fourth innings in India is almost impossible.
Not many had thought that India will go for the target. But to everyone’s surprise, they went for it. Virender Sehwag played one of his finest innings to set up India’s chase. Sachin Tendulkar took over to notch up a brilliant century. India won the game on the fifth afternoon. It remains the highest ever successful run-chase in India.
#1 Lords, 2021
KL Rahul’s century in the first innings set up a strong base for India. But Joe Root’s century shaped England’s strong reply. Tempers flared when Jasprit Bumrah’s bouncer barrage irked James Anderson. It was expected that England will go after Bumrah in the second innings. On the fifth day morning with the match in the balance, Bumrah joined Mohammad Shami at the crease.
England on cue went after Bumrah. There were verbal volleys fired at the pair. But Bumrah and Shami stitched a series-defining partnership. India set a target of 270 in 60 overs for England. Virat Kohli marshaled his resources brilliantly to put England under pressure. India won the game with just 8 overs left. It was one of India’s greatest ever Test victories overseas. Kohli-led India completed a full circle that started back in 2018!
