Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ends 2–2: A recap of a Test series for the ages
Under a new Test captain in Shubman Gill, the Indian team exhibited a spirited performance in England and levelled the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 after winning the final match by six runs at Kennington Oval on Monday. India fought hard in every Test, and despite the lack of experience, they challenged the hosts till the very last ball of the Test series. 35 runs were needed for England on the last day to win the final Test and claim the series. But the Siraj-led Indian bowling unit didn’t let that happen. The Indian pacer continued his fine work with the ball and, along with Prasidh Krishna, claimed the remaining four English wickets and won the match by just six runs.
POV: India’s victory lap after winning one of the all-time greatest tests! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/d3RcErVuPV
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 4, 2025
India put England under pressure right from the opening Test itself. They were, in fact, in a stronger position to win the Test as England needed to chase a 371-run target on the final day to take a 1-0 lead. But Ben Duckett’s masterclass took the game away from Gill and Co. Nevertheless, India made a solid comeback in the next Test match. It was time for captain Shubman Gill to rise to the occasion. A double-century from him helped India post a mammoth total of 587 in the first innings. England, in reply, piled up 407 in the second innings.
In their second innings, a 161-run knock off 162 balls from Gill, along with valuable contributions from Pant (65) and Jadeja (69), took India to 427 for 6 before they declared. This time around, the target was much bigger, and in pursuit of a 608-run chase, England succumbed. Akash Deep ran through England’s batting unit as his six-wicket haul led to England getting bundled out for 271.
With the series poised at 1-1, action moved to Lord’s Cricket Ground
Jasprit Bumrah made his comeback into the playing XI for the Lord’s Test. After Nitish Reddy sent both openers back, Bumrah broke the back of England’s middle-order. But despite that, they made 387 in the first innings as Joe Root brought up his first century of the series, while Stokes and Smith made half-centuries. While Pant and Jadeja continued their good work with the bat, it was KL Rahul’s century that highlighted India’s resilience with the bat. Interestingly, India were also bowled out for 387, setting up for an exciting second half of the Test match.
The Indian bowlers hunted in a pack, and a combined effort with the ball led to England’s getting bundled out for 192 in their second innings, thereby setting a target of 193. India had done all the hard work and were just 193 runs short of taking a 2-1 lead. Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes, however, had other ideas.
The final session on day 4 saw Indian batters getting out in a cluster, and the game slipped out of their hands. A disciplined bowling coupled with some unplayable deliveries led to half of their side getting out for 71 on the board. Ravindra Jadeja produced a massive fight on day five and kept India’s hopes alive till the final session, but he ran out of partners in the end. India fell 22 runs short of the target.
Nevertheless, with two more Tests left, India were confident of a fightback.
India made a positive start and posted 358 in the first innings of the fourth Test in Manchester. But, once again, Joe Root came in their way. Brilliant knocks from Joe Root and Ben Stokes led England’s charge as they piled on 669 in their first innings. India had no option but to bat for the rest of the Test and secure a draw. England wanted to bundle India out, but unbeaten centuries from Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja didn’t let that happen.
Fortunately, both Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer missed the final Test at Kennington Oval — a surface that offered the most assistance to fast bowlers throughout the series. Bumrah was also rested, but Mohammed Siraj produced a heart-warming performance that will go down as one of his best ever.
Difference maker. 👑 pic.twitter.com/0n8KzdriCN
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 4, 2025
Siraj bowled his heart out and picked nine wickets in the Test match. Yashasvi Jaiswal ended the tour with a hundred. Karun Nair scored his first Test half-century in nine years, while Jadeja and Washington Sundar continued their fine job with the bat. India fought till the final ball of the Test match and emerged victorious by six runs. The 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ended in a 2-2 draw.
