IND vs ENG Tests: Four Indian Players Who Always Turned Up Big

Let's revisit some of the Indian greats who consistently performed in English conditions — players who rose to the occasion and turned matches in India’s favour.

Few Indian batters have been as reliable overseas as Rahul Dravid, especially in England.

Source : PTI

India vs England Test series is set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, with Team India stepping into a new era under the leadership of Shubman Gill.

As excitement builds for the five-match series, it’s worth revisiting some of the Indian greats who consistently performed in English conditions — players who rose to the occasion and turned matches in India’s favour. Interestingly, one of them is still a part of the current squad.

Rahul Dravid

Few Indian batters have been as reliable overseas as Rahul Dravid, especially in England. His Test debut came at Lord’s in 1996, where he impressed immediately with a classy 95. From that moment on, Dravid developed a special relationship with English pitches.

In the 2002 series, he scored a crucial 148 at Headingley and followed it up with a magnificent 217 at The Oval. He captained the side to a memorable series win in 2007 and stood tall during the difficult 2011 tour, scoring three centuries in four Tests even as India were whitewashed 4–0.

Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly also made his Test debut in England in 1996, and like Dravid, left an immediate impact with a brilliant 131 at Lord’s and 136 at Trent Bridge. His elegant strokeplay and fearless approach won him admiration across the cricketing world.

Ganguly continued to perform strongly in England in the 2002 series with knocks of 99 and a commanding 128. He was a vital part of India’s victorious 2007 campaign, and remarkably, in his last 10 innings in England, he was never dismissed in single digits. Adding to his batting credentials, Ganguly also contributed with the ball, picking up eight wickets with his useful medium pace — a rare asset in swinging English conditions.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar’s first Test century came in England in 1990, at just 17 years old. His ton at Old Trafford helped India save the match and marked the beginning of a career filled with masterful performances in England.

He continued to shine on English soil with memorable knocks like 122 at Edgbaston in 1996, and later scores of 177 and 193 in other tours. Across two decades of cricket (1990 to 2011), Tendulkar never completed a tour of England without at least two major innings. 

Jasprit Bumrah

The only active player on this list, Jasprit Bumrah has made a remarkable impact in England despite touring just twice so far. His ability to move the ball at pace and strike in crunch situations makes him India’s biggest weapon in overseas Tests.

Bumrah holds the best bowling average among Indian pacers in England and is already the third-highest wicket-taker for India in the country. Incredibly, he has gone wicketless in only one of his 15 innings in England.

Whether it’s knocking over top-order batters or wrapping up the tail, Bumrah has been a consistent game-changer for India and will be crucial in the upcoming series.