It was heartbreak at Lord’s, where we came agonisingly close before going 1-2 down in the series. But sometimes, it’s in those raw, painful moments that real growth begins.
What unfolded at Old Trafford wasn’t just a match, it was a coming of age — a sign of a young team maturing, learning quickly, and refusing to back down.
won the toss and did what they do best — opted to bowl first, trying to exploit early movement and break our spirit. They even served up a flat pitch, hoping to drain the fight out of us slowly, but our openers had other plans. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were resolute — calm, gritty, focused. They put up a near-century stand, blunting England’s new-ball hopes. The young Sai Sudharsan, given another shot, didn’t just grab the opportunity, but held on like his life depended on it. That knock may well have shut the door on Karun Nair. At this level, the game is ruthless — one chance and you either seize it or vanish.
And then there was — pure fire. Despite carrying an injury, he cleared the ropes like it meant nothing. That kind of spark is rare. But in Test cricket, even fire needs to be controlled. His pre-meditated reverse sweep to a yorker cost him. In this format, shot selection isn’t flair, it’s discipline. You can’t wing it and expect to survive.
Our bowling, though, lacked craft. We missed a basic, but crucial trick — apply pressure. One bowler should’ve hunted for wickets, while the rest tightened the screws from the other end. That balance can crack open even the best of line-ups. Instead, we sprayed the ball around, bowled poor lines, and let England breathe. Our lead pacer needed to go for the kill, while the rest built the trap. That never happened. Even our spinners — capable of magic — barely tossed it up.
Reading pitch, an issue
At the heart of it, our Achilles heel remained — reading the pitch. It’s not just the captain’s job. The support staff needs to guide, nudge, and mentor, especially when the skipper is still finding his feet.
Speaking about the support staff, I’ve always felt that a head coach shouldn’t just land straight on the top floor. The ones who succeed are those who’ve taken the stairs to get there. When a coach has shared the dressing room with current players during his playing days, things can get tricky. Old friendships, rivalries, or egos can sometimes create tension. That’s why Rahul Dravid has my full respect. He didn’t skip any steps. From coaching the Under-19s to India A, and then finally the senior team — he took the long road. In doing so, he grew with the players, understood their mindset, and how to guide them without forcing anything. Ravi Shastri is a different beast altogether — pure instinct and a sharp cricketing brain. I saw it even back in our University days. He could read the game quicker than most. But let’s be honest, the cricket world can be political too. It doesn’t always recognise true worth fairly.
Then came the second innings. When Jaiswal and Sudharsan fell early, England smelled blood. With a 311-run lead, they didn’t expect a Day Five. But Shubman Gill and were calm, assured, and unfazed, batting like men on a mission. Even when the pitch misbehaved, they didn’t flinch — no panic, no loose shots.
After their stand took the game to Day Five, and the ever-reliable Ravindra Jadeja built on that, absorbing pressure, counter-attacking smartly, and slowly shifting the momentum as England’s spinners were reduced to floating loopy ‘donkey drops.’
Boys growing into men
Watching it all unfold was satisfying — especially for someone who has seen many of these boys grow at the NCA during their U-19 days. Now, they were standing tall on the biggest stage. This wasn’t just a draw. It was a fightback, built on pride, courage, and maturity. The boys are growing into men. And with heads held high, a clear plan, and fire in the belly, I won’t be surprised if this series ends 2-2.