Top 5 Best Test Battles - India vs England, 21st Century

England will be in India for a five-match Test series against Rohit Sharma and co. from January 2024 to March 2024. Under Ben Stokes, the English side will endeavour to win their first Test series on Indian soil in 11 years. India will also strive to showcase their best and continue to be formidable at their home.

India’s last Test series defeat on their turf came in 2012 against England only. The English team vanquished the hosts by 2-1 in a four-match series and won their first series in India in 27 years. Alastair Cook, who was the captain of the English side, led the team from the front and became the Player of the Series for scoring the most runs in the competition. The southpaw notched up 562 runs in eight innings of four matches. 

Before the start of the series between the two rivals, it’s time to recall some player battles that made this rivalry intense and famous among cricket fans. In the last 24 years, there have been some superb contests between legendary players that have made the competition between the two sides intriguing. 

Here are top five Test battles between India and England in 21st century:

5. Alastair Cook versus Ravindra Jadeja

Alastair Cook is considered one of the greatest batters in Test cricket. It was his batting effort that helped England script history in 2012 in India. However, after four years, when England visited the sub-continent nation again, the southpaw looked completely different against the same side.

Confronting the spin-bowling duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Cook completely struggled against the latter, who trapped him six times in the competition. In the battle between both legends, Jadeja emerged victorious as he got the better of the former England captain mostly.

Cook has scored only 211 runs in seven innings against the left-arm India spinner while Jadeja brought cheers to the faces of Team India supporters seven times, picking up the English legend’s scalp.