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STUMP VISION AUGUST 08, 2025 | The Indian Eye 50

The Art of Not Losing: India’s Greatest

Test Escapes, Sydney to Manchester

Both Sydney and Manchester showed that for India, a draw can be as satisfying
as a win if earned the hard way. One was fought with bruised bodies and taped

hamstrings, the other with steely nerves and calm decision-making

Test hundreds, shut the door on En-
gland. At Manchester, they blocked
everything including England’s pa-
tience! However, India’s bowling
had a tough time. Jasprit Bumrah
looked off-colour, Mohammed Siraj
lacked sting, and debutant Anchul
Kamboj was thrown straight into the
fire. Tactically too, questions were
raised especially around the delayed
introduction of Washington Sundar.
England’s top order took full
advantage, with Joe Root and Ben
Stokes both scoring centuries. Only a
ARCHAN MEHTA
fatigued and injured Stokes’ limited
bowling kept England from pushing
nly in Test cricket can a draw harder for a result. Frustration visibly
feel like you just stole the
Ocrown jewels and walked grew when India, instead of accepting
the draw early, chose to bat on and
away with a smile! The Sydney Test in allow Jadeja and Sundar to complete
2021 against Australia and the Man- personal milestones. Ben Stokes lat-
chester Test in 2025 against England er explained that he had offered the
weren’t just regular draws they’ve draw to protect his fast bowlers from
become legendary for how India held further injuries and manage workload,
on against the odds. These weren’t particularly since Liam Dawson was
just matches India survived; they already cramping and exhausted. But
were hard-fought battles where the what followed made England’s irrita-
team refused to give up despite being tion obvious, part-time bowlers began
in deep trouble. In Sydney, India’s deliberately bowling loose deliveries,
injured and tired players dug deep unhappy with India’s refusal to shake
to force a memorable draw, which hands early. It led to an awkward and
helped them level the series and set unusual ending to what had been a
up a historic win at the Gabba. Four fascinating Test match. What could’ve
years later in Manchester, England ended as a gentleman’s agreement in-
posted a huge 669, and India were stead wrapped up with cold shoulders
struggling at 0 for 2. But once again, India’s captain Shubman Gill celebrates his century during day 5 of the 4th test match against and tired smiles.
India found a way to fight back with In the end, both Sydney and Man-
courage and skill. England, at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester on Sunday. (@BCCI X/ANI Photo) chester showed that for India, a draw
Both Sydney 2021 and Manches-
ter 2025 were iconic draws, show- by an unbroken 203-run stand from failed sledges, and India walked away can be as satisfying as a win if earned
the hard way. One was fought with
casing India’s grit, fight, and fearless Ravindra Jadeja and Washington with a draw that felt like a win. At bruised bodies and taped hamstrings,
spirit. In these games, India found Sundar both scoring centuries stood Sydney, India blocked everything but the other with steely nerves and calm
themselves behind the eightball, ne- tall at Manchester. hospital beds. decision-making. These games under-
cessitating a defiant batting effort to In Sydney, it was a show of pure Manchester 2025 brought a very lined the soul of Test cricket : unpre-
secure the draw and stay alive in the physical resilience. Hanuma Vihari different kind of challenge. India dictable, unforgiving, and unforgetta-
series. Key batting partnerships were batted with a torn hamstring, R Ash- were mentally under pressure after ble. India didn’t just draw, they stood
crucial in both escapes, with Rishabh win with a battered body, and togeth- England posted a towering 669. But tall. Turns out, the only thing stronger
Pant’s 97 (while batting with a frac- er they faced over 250 balls to save Shubman Gill, the young captain, led than India’s middle order was their
tured elbow) and the epic stand of the match. Without Indian captain with composure and scored his fourth refusal to lose!
Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin (42.4 at the time Virat Kohli, the team ral- century of the series. He and KL Rahul
overs, 259 balls with injuries) defining lied around shared grit, frustrating a stitched together a solid partnership, Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated to
Sydney, while Shubman Gill and KL world-class Aussie bowling attack. before Ravindra Jadeja and Washing- telling compelling stories about athletes,
Rahul’s 174-run partnership followed Add Tim Paine’s dropped catches and ton Sundar, both hitting their maiden teams, and the world of cricket

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