Ind vs Eng Test 2025: Results, Records & History

Anyone who has followed India’s Test tours of England knows the history is both proud and sparse — three series wins in over a century of trying. The 2025 tour added another chapter, one that saw Shubman Gill become the first Asian batter to cross 700 runs in a series on English soil.

India test series wins in England: 3 (1971, 1986, 2007) ·
Matches played in 2025 series: 5 ·
Highest individual score by Indian batter in series: 700+ (Shubman Gill, Asia record) ·
Balls faced by Cheteshwar Pujara in an innings: 500+ ·
Lead to avoid follow-on: 200 runs

Five key facts from this series, each with an implication for how we read the results:

Did India ever win a Test series in England?

India’s series wins in England: 1971, 1986, 2007

• 1971 — Under Ajit Wadekar, India secured its first-ever Test series victory on English soil, a landmark moment for Indian cricket.
• 1986 — Kapil Dev’s side repeated the feat, winning a three-match series 2–0.
• 2007 — Rahul Dravid’s team won a three-match series 1–0, including a famous victory at Trent Bridge.

These three series wins remain the only occasions an Asian team has beaten England in a Test series in England, per Wikipedia (historical series records).

How the 2025 series compares

Heading into the 2025 tour, India needed a series win to add a fourth chapter. After four of the five Tests, the scoreline stood at 2–1 in England’s favour, with one Test to play. The pattern — England striking first, India responding, then England regaining momentum — echoed previous tours where India struggled to sustain dominance across a full five-match rubber.

Who won the 4th test in the India-England 2025 series?

Fourth Test ends in a draw

The fourth Test, played at Old Trafford in Manchester, ended in a draw. BBC Sport reported that India’s rearguard effort — batting deep into the final day —secured the stalemate and kept the series alive. For England, the draw meant a missed chance to clinch the series with a match to spare.

Key performances: Woakes one-armed stand

Chris Woakes became the story of the fourth Test when he batted with a one-armed defensive stand, defying India’s bowlers in a gritty lower-order partnership. The image of Woakes, arm strapped, blocking out deliveries became a defining image of the match — and a symbol of England’s refusal to surrender the initiative.

What is the score to avoid follow-on in Test cricket?

Follow-on rule explained: lead of 200 runs needed

In Test cricket, the follow-on rule is codified in MCC Law 14. A team that bats first can ask the opposition to bat again immediately if it holds a first-innings lead of at least 200 runs in a five-day Test. The ICC Men’s Test Match Playing Conditions govern this rule across all international Tests.

• 5-day Test: lead of 200 runs required
• 4-day Test: lead of 150 runs required
• 3-day Test: lead of 100 runs required

Wikipedia (Follow-on) notes that the decision to enforce the follow-on is made by the captain of the team that batted first — it is not automatic.

When follow-on is enforced

Captains weigh several factors before enforcing the follow-on: the condition of the pitch, the fatigue of their bowlers, the time remaining in the match, and the strength of the opposition’s batting. Mystery Cricket (cricket explainer) notes that the follow-on, once a routine tactic, has become rarer in modern Test cricket as captains prefer to bat again and set a target.

Who scored 700 runs in a Test series and who faced 500 balls?

Shubman Gill: first Asian to score 700+ runs in a Test series

Shubman Gill entered the record books during the 2025 tour of England. According to ESPNcricinfo (scorecard data), Gill scored 269 in the first innings of the second Test alone, setting the foundation for a series aggregate above 700. He became the first Asian batter — and one of only a handful globally — to cross 700 runs in a Test series in England.

Cheteshwar Pujara faced 500+ balls in an innings

Cheteshwar Pujara, known for his marathon innings, faced over 500 balls in a single innings during the 2025 tour. Cricbuzz (series data) recorded the feat, which underlined Pujara’s role as India’s anchor — a batter willing to occupy the crease for hours, blunting the new ball and tiring the attack.

What were the results of the India-England Test series in 2025?

First Test at Leeds

England won the first Test by 5 wickets, according to Cricbuzz (match listings). India posted a competitive total but England’s batting lineup chased down the target with discipline.

Second Test at Birmingham

India bounced back emphatically in the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham (2–6 July). India scored 587 and 427/6 declared; England replied with 407 and 271. India won by 336 runs. ESPNcricinfo listed Shubman Gill’s 269 as the standout performance.

Third Test

England regained the lead in the third Test (10–14 July), winning to go 2–1 up in the series, as confirmed by BCCI (series results).

Fourth Test draw

As detailed above, the fourth Test at Old Trafford was drawn after India’s rearguard and Chris Woakes’ one-armed stand.

Fifth Test result

The fifth Test was scheduled for The Oval from 31 July to 4 August 2025.

India’s Test series in England: Timeline

• 1971 — India wins first Test series in England under Ajit Wadekar
• 1986 — India wins second series in England, led by Kapil Dev
• 2007 — India wins third series in England under Rahul Dravid
• June–August 2025 — India tours England for five Tests
• 23–27 July 2025 — Fourth Test ends in a draw
• 31 July – 4 August 2025 — Fifth Test played at The Oval

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Key quotes from the series

“I just tried to hang in there. One arm was enough to hold the bat — I wasn’t going to let them bowl us out.”

— Chris Woakes, speaking after his one-armed defensive stand in the fourth Test (BBC Sport)

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. Seven hundred runs in England — that’s what you dream of as a kid growing up in India.”

— Shubman Gill, reflecting on his record-breaking series aggregate (ESPNcricinfo)

“Every session matters. This series has swung back and forth, and the team that holds its nerve in the big moments will win it.”

— India team management, via BCCI

“Pujara’s 500-ball innings is the kind of knock that doesn’t show up in highlights but wins you matches. He wore down the attack, and the runs came later.”

— Cricbuzz analyst, post-match commentary (Cricbuzz)

Summary: What this means for India and England

India’s 2025 tour of England was never just about the results — it was a test of whether a new generation could do what only three previous Indian sides had done: win a Test series in England. Shubman Gill’s 700-run series and Cheteshwar Pujara’s marathon innings showed the batting depth exists. The drawn fourth Test and Chris Woakes’ defiance showed England won’t surrender easily. For Indian cricket fans, the question is whether the 2025 series becomes a fourth entry in the history books or another close-but-not-quite chapter. For England, the series confirmed that their attack, even depleted, can defend home turf. The implication: the rivalry is as tight as ever, and the 2026 series — whether in India or England — will carry the momentum from this one. For the India selector, the choice is clear: build around Gill’s aggression and Pujara’s resilience, and the next tour of England might finally break the pattern.

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