Combined playing XI from the India vs England Test series

The 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy concluded with a fascinating session on the final day as both teams shared two wins each. The hosts took an early lead after beating India by five wickets in the first Test. India made a terrific comeback to crush England by 336 runs in the second Test match. The action then moved to the Iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground for the third Test match. Once again, the game went down to the wire but India fell 22 runs short of the target. 

With England leading 2-1 in the series, India needed to win both the remaining Tests to win the series. However, the fourth Test culminated in a draw as both teams put in a brilliant batting display on a batting friendly Manchester wicket. The fifth Test was played on the most seam-friendly pitch at the Kennington Oval. India didn’t have Jasprit Bumrah, but Mohammed Siraj led the charge with the ball. Siraj and Prasidh Krishna showcased a terrific bowling display to help India win the Test match by six runs and level the series 2-2. 

In this article, let’s take a look at the combined playing XI from the India vs England Test series:

1. KL Rahul 

India’s most experienced specialist batter on the tour, KL Rahul stepped up big time. His terrific knocks at the top of the order gave solidity to the batting order. He was one of the most consistent batters for India on the tour. The Indian batter amassed 532 runs in five matches at an average of 67.12 and finished as the third highest run-getter in the series. He should feature as one of the two openers in the combined playing XI. 

2 . Ben Duckett 

England won the first Test match of the series due to Ben Duckett’s sensational knock of 149 runs in 170 balls. His knock helped the team chase down a massive 371-run target and take 1-0 lead. Duckett fell cheaply in the second and third Tests but played a terrific 94-run knock in the fourth Test match in Manchester and continued his form in the fifth Test as well. 

3. Shubman Gill 

Shubman Gill makes it into the list as the captain of the team. In his first Test assignment, Gill impressed one and all with his bowling changes, field placement, and man-management skills. Gill was nothing short of sensational with the bat, amassing more than 700 runs at an astonishing average of 75.40. He hit four centuries during the series. 

4. Harry Brook 

Harry Brook was one English batter who consistently played with the ‘Bazball’ approach throughout the series, regardless of the situation. The English batters showcased an aggressive brand of cricket- sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. Harry Brook’s counter-attacking knock of 111 runs off 98 balls in the fifth Test turned the game on its head and almost gave England the victory. He finished with 481 runs in five Tests at an average of 53.44. 

5. Rishabh Pant 

Rishabh Pant slots in as the wicket-keeper in the list. Pant’s injury in the fourth Test proved to be a big blow for the team. Nevertheless, he was remarkable, once again, continuing his fine run in Test cricket. England found it difficult to decipher Pant's approach to the innings. He hit two centuries in his tally of 479 runs in four matches at an average of 68.43. 

6. Ben Stokes 

Ben Stokes gave his everything in the series. He put his body on the line but didn’t stop putting in the hard yards. Whenever his team needed a wicket, he would bowl a peach to get that. It was a brilliant all-rounder performance from the England skipper. Had he been available for the fifth Test match, England could have won it and sealed the series. 

7. Ravindra Jadeja 

Ravindra’s batting graph in the last few years has only taken an upward trajectory. He has consistently contributed runs down the order in the series, helping India stitch those valuable partnerships and notch big totals on the board. Jadeja had almost won India the fourth Test match but fell short of his partners in the end. He played all five Tests and scored 516 runs at an average of 86. 

8. Washington Sundar 

Many people questioned Washington Sundar’s inclusion in the second Test as India had compromised on playing a specialist bowler. But he made an impact straightaway, stitching a 100-run partnership with Shubman Gill. Sundar then produced an incredible spell of 4 for 22 to help India bundle England out for 192 at Lord’s. Overall, he made 284 runs in four Tests at an average of 47.3 and picked up seven wickets. 

9. Jasprit Bumrah 

Jasprit Bumrah didn’t play all five Tests in the series but made a lasting impression in the three matches he played. He picked a five-for in the very first Test of the series and followed it up with another five-wicket haul at Lord’s. On a batting-friendly wicket in Manchester, Bumrah went for 112 runs for 2 wickets to his name in 33 overs. His pace slowed down, and cricket experts questioned his declining fitness levels. In all, Bumrah picked 14 wickets in just three Test matches at an average of 26. 

10. Mohammed Siraj 

Mohammed Siraj’s spell in the fifth Test will go down as one of the best moments in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Siraj has bowled his heart out in the series, giving everything he had in his tank. He was a rock in India’s bowling department, playing all five Tests. He finished as the highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets in five Test matches at an average of 32.43. 

11. Gus Atkinson 

The England fast bowler played only one final Test in the series but his accuracy with the ball was something England craved for. He was phenomenal with the ball, troubling Indian batters throughout the Test match. In just one Test, he managed to pick eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul.