India Tour of England 2021 Recap: Memories Ahead of 2025 Series. With the countdown on for the hugely anticipated 2025 India tour of England, all eyes turn back to one of the most exciting yet controversial series of recent memory—India’s tour of England in 2021, which ended in a 2–2 draw full of excitement, controversy, and drama. With new captains, fresh rivalries, and an undeniable urge to settle old scores, the stage is set for another epic battle in English conditions.
A Series Full of Drama: What Happened in 2021?
The 2021 India tour of England was one of the most thrilling Test series in recent years. India got off to a fast start, drawing the first Test at Trent Bridge, then producing iconic wins at Lord’s and The Oval. With the two wins, India leads the five-match Test series 2–1 and was looking to write history with a win—it would have been India’s first Test series win in England since 2007.
Lord’s Test Win: Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s unexpected partnership on Day 5, followed by Bumrah and Siraj’s fiery bowling spell, dismantled England and sparked celebrations across the cricketing world.
The Oval Glory: Rohit Sharma’s exquisite century and Shardul Thakur’s all-round performance helped guide India to a wonderful victory at The Oval, further strengthening India’s superiority in the series.
Also Read: WTC 2025-2027 Schedule: Full Team-Wise Home Away Fixtures
However, the last Test match at Old Trafford was cancelled, just hours before the players reached the field of play, with the threat of COVID-19 hanging over the Indian camp. It was rescheduled in July 2022, with England, led by Ben Stokes under the aggressive ‘Bazball’ philosophy, successfully chasing a record 378 to tie the series at 2-2.
Top Performers in the 2021 Series
Joe Root (England): 737 runs in 5 Tests—the leading run-scorer and by some distance. He was unstoppable and scored nearly a third of England’s runs.
Rohit Sharma (India): 368 runs—India’s most consistent batsman in the series, including a spectacular 127 at The Oval.
Jasprit Bumrah (India): 23 wickets—spearheading India’s pace attack and bowling several match-turning spells.
Ollie Robinson (England): 21 wickets—consistently performed as an attacking bowler with the new ball throughout the series.
The Importance of India Tour of England 2025
India tour of England 2025 is the beginning of WTC 2025-27 for both countries. It would be 18 years since the last series victory on English soil, but because they have moved on from an era the likes of Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli to a new generation. Shubman Gill, at 25 years, will have transitioned from middle-order batter to Test captain for India following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, while carrying an entire nation’s expectation for a series win in England after 18 years.
Also Read: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025: Check Full Schedule, Venues, Teams
Surely these conditions will not be conducive to a new captain or a new team, and certainly not with an England team that is historically very at home. India is well-stocked with players who can perform in record-breaking numbers, but we will have to see if they have the depth in pace and the form of some fast-bowling stalwarts like Bumrah.
For England, things are always challenging. A raft of injuries to their pacers and the recent retirement of James Anderson leave a gap in their bowling depth. Former pace bowler Stuart Broad admitted that he worried that England may lack the power to take 20 wickets, as is needed for victory.
