ENG vs IND 2025: This series will rank right at the top for India, says KL Rahul
“For us as a team, that wasn’t given a chance in this series... For us to fight back and to fight in every game and to get a result which is 2-2 might seem like a drop," said Rahul.
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Indian opener KL Rahul perfectly summed up India’s thrilling win at The Oval, calling it one of the most memorable victories in recent times. India fought tooth and nail to secure a six-run victory in the fifth and final Test of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, ending the series in a 2–2 draw. Rahul acknowledged the significance of the win, stating it would rank right at the top with India's greatest triumphs in their Test history.
Rahul finished as the third-highest run-scorer in the series, amassing 532 runs across 10 innings. While he admitted that lifting the World Cup holds a unique place in any cricketer’s heart, he emphasised that moments like these in Test cricket stay with players forever due to the grit and effort involved.
“We have seen India lift the World Cup... I mean nothing compares to lifting the World Cup. But so many doubts, so many questions from everybody about whether Test cricket will stay or not. I think both the teams, and the way we’ve played in this series, I think we’ve answered that question,” said Rahul as quoted by The Telegraph.
“For us as a team, that wasn’t given a chance in this series... For us to fight back and to fight in every game and to get a result which is 2-2 might seem like a drop. But for us and for Indian Test cricket, going in the future, I think this will rank right at the top,” he added.
ENG vs IND 2025: Top three run-scorers in Test series
Gill is here to stay as a leader: KL Rahul
Rahul expressed confidence that India will continue to win many more series abroad, adding that the entire squad deserves credit for their hard work. The 33-year-old also showered praise on captain Shubman Gill, commending his leadership throughout the high-stakes Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
“Shubman’s been phenomenal. I think he’s really led from the front. He’s worked really hard on the boys behind the scenes as well... In forming connections, which a lot of people don’t see. He’s been tactically really good. The changes he’s made over the series have always got us the wickets somehow. And I think he will grow. He will grow on to be a really, really good Test captain,” said Rahul.
“I can’t speak too much about his individual performance because I think he’s already shown the world what he can do in all three formats. And especially this series, the way he batted. He’s here to stay as a leader and he will take this Indian Test team to greater heights,” he added.
Both teams deserve credit equally: Ben Stokes
England captain Ben Stokes chose to focus on the positives following his side’s heartbreaking loss in the fifth Test. Sidelined due to injury, Stokes could only watch from sidelines as England crumbled from a commanding 301/3 to 367 all out, handing India a narrow six-run win and resulting in a 2–2 series draw.
“Credit to both teams. The amount of effort from both teams to end up here 2-2 is incredible. The heart and passion and everything that was shown, especially in our second bowling innings, I thought was outstanding,” Stokes told reporters.
Stokes, who had scored a century and taken a five-wicket haul in the drawn fourth Test in Manchester, reflected on England’s performance in the series finale under Ollie Pope’s captaincy. He noted that England had been in control at various stages of the match but pointed to the loss of Chris Woakes, who suffered a shoulder injury on Day 1, as a pivotal moment that significantly impacted their chances of closing out the game.
“Losing Woakesy early on in the game changed the whole responsibility on the bowlers in particular, the roles they were selected for. But you can look back on a Test match that goes five days and pick out loads of moments as to why (you lost). For us, to come out here to try and chase that total down in the way that we did was outstanding,” he concluded.
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