India’s England tour begins with a fresh face and fading legends. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired, can Shubman Gill lead an inexperienced side to glory? A gripping look back at what India is missing and what lies ahead.
The Shadows of Giants Loom Over Shubman Gill’s Debut Tour
Virat Kohli’s cover drives and Rohit Sharma’s lazy elegance have echoes that ring through English grounds, but this time, Team India comes to our shores with a far younger heartbeat — led by Shubman Gill. For the first time in over a decade, the reassuring presence of Cheteshwar Pujara Ajinkya Rahane and Ashwin is not there. With Rohit and Kohli retired from Test cricket, the baton has been handed over to a raw and untested generation.
England 2018: Kohli’s Heroics Amid Team Collapse
Rewind to 2018, and you’ll find Kohli taking on the English bowlers like a crazy man. Even as India went on to lose the series 4-1, Virat appeared to be a solo fighter as he hit 593 runs in five Tests that included two hundreds and three fifties. Ishant Sharma’s fiery spells yielded 18 wickets, serving notice to the English that Indian pacers could gnash overseas too. But, in the end, India paid a very steep price for the absence of support around Kohli.
England 2021: The Rise of Rohit and Bumrah’s Thunder
Fast forward, 2021, and India are a much stronger team. The series was tied 2-2, but it was a moral victory. Rohit Sharma topped the batting charts for India with 368 runs, Pant and Rahul not far behind. The tormentor-in-chief was Bumrah with 23 wickets, and in every spell he set the tone. Siraj and Shami supported him well, securing India’s hold on the five-match series.Flames Series on Prime Video: A Nostalgic Ride Back to Teenage Love with 8.8 IMDb Rating
This Time, It’s Bumrah Alone – And Maybe Not for Long
Five years later, now in 2025, that golden quartet is down to only Jasprit Bumrah. But fitness issues could restrict his impact, and in Shami or Ishant to share the burden, India’s bowling looks flimsy. To his (their) chagrin, this series could be a baptism of fire for some new talent, with English batsmen which include Joe Root still very much bristling with ambition.
Shubman Gill Chooses Test Glory Over IPL Glamour: “Winning in England is Bigger Than Any Trophy”
A Historic Opportunity—or a Harsh Reality Check?
India has only clinched a Test series in England thrice—in 1971, 1986, and 2007. Will Shubman Gill etch his name beside Wadekar, Kapil, and Dravid? Or will this tour highlight the gaping void left by legends? One thing’s certain—the stage is set, and the spotlight is unrelenting.
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