As the sun sets on a golden era of Indian cricket, a fresh chapter begins at Headingley on June 20. With Rohit Sharma stepping down and Virat Kohli bidding adieu to international cricket, all eyes now turn to Shubman Gill, the new torchbearer of Indian cricket, who will captain the national side for the first time. India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is standing beside him, a fierce competitor known for his unfiltered intensity and tactical sharpness.
Their first test? England, under the fearless leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, has transformed traditional cricketing norms with its aggressive “Bazball” philosophy. India, now in transition, will look to counter with its own brand of fearless cricket. As two bold ideologies clash, Headingley prepares to host not just a match but a battle of mindsets, fresh ambition, and a legacy in the making.
How Many Times Have India and England Played Each Other?
Total Matches Played: 136
England Wins: 51 (36 at home, 15 away)
India Wins: 35 (26 at home, 9 away)
Drawn: 50
India have showcased strong home dominance with 26 of their 35 Test wins coming on Indian soil, while England have asserted control at home with 36 of their 51 victories on English turf.
Last 5 Matches: India vs England – Test Series 2024 Recap
5th Test, 2024: HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
India closed out the series with an innings and 64-run win. Rohit and Gill struck centuries, while Padikkal and Sarfaraz chipped in with fifties. England folded against spin and pace alike.
4th Test, 2024: JSCA Stadium, Ranchi
India sealed the series 3-1 with a thrilling five-wicket win. Dhruv Jurel starred with a gritty 90 in a low-scoring match, and the spinners wrapped up the English resistance.
3rd Test, 2024: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
India dominated, winning by 434 runs. Jaiswal struck another double century (214*), and debutant Sarfaraz Khan impressed with twin fifties. England crumbled under pressure, unable to counter India’s all-round effort.
2nd Test, 2024: ACA VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam
India bounced back in style with a 106-run win. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a majestic double hundred (209), while Ravindra Jadeja tore through England’s batting with a five-wicket haul in the second innings.
1st Test, 2024: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
England stunned India with a 28-run win to go 1-0 up. Ollie Pope’s sensational 196 in the second innings and Tom Hartley’s seven-wicket haul dismantled India’s chase despite a strong start from the top order.
Who Has the Better Record: India or England?
In terms of sheer numbers, England leads the head-to-head tally in Test matches with 51 wins to India’s 35 across 136 encounters. However, the story isn’t as one-sided as it seems. England’s dominance came largely in the early decades, especially on home soil. Of their 51 wins, 36 have come in England, showcasing their stronghold in swinging conditions.
Conversely, India have ruled the roost at home, notching up 26 of their 35 wins in subcontinental conditions. In recent years, the tide has shifted. Since 2012, India have had the upper hand, especially at home where England have managed just two Test wins in over a decade.
When it comes to tournaments like the World Test Championship (WTC), India have fared better overall, qualifying for two straight finals. England may have the historical edge, but India’s modern-day consistency and home dominance have balanced the scales.
Memorable Matches Between India and England
1. Ishant’s Short Ball Carnage – Lord’s, 2014
In one of India’s most iconic overseas victories, the 2014 Lord’s Test saw Ishant Sharma deliver a career-defining spell. After setting England a target of 319, India, led by Ishant’s relentless barrage of short-pitched bowling, bowled England out for 223. Ishant picked up 7/74, breaking the back of England’s batting and handing India their first win at Lord’s in 28 years. Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliant first innings century and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s all-around brilliance also stood out. This match marked a turning point in India’s approach to overseas Tests, bringing aggression, attitude, and a rare away triumph at the Home of Cricket.
2. Ashwin and Axar’s Fortress – Chepauk, 2021
The 2nd Test of the 2021 series at Chennai was a turning point after India’s defeat in the opener. Batting first on a tricky surface, India posted 329, thanks to Rohit Sharma’s commanding 161. R. Ashwin’s all-round brilliance, taking eight wickets and scoring a century, completely derailed England. Debutant Axar Patel immediately made an impact with a five-wicket haul in the second innings. England folded for 134 and 164, handing India a massive 317-run win. The spin twins turned Chepauk into a fortress and laid the foundation for India’s comeback in the series, which they went on to win 3-1.
3. Edge of Edgbaston – 2018
The 2018 Edgbaston Test remains one of the most thrilling encounters between India and England. Chasing 194 in the fourth innings, India fell short by just 31 runs despite a fighting 149 from Virat Kohli in the first innings. Kohli’s masterclass against Anderson & Co. turned heads worldwide, as he single-handedly kept India in the hunt. Sam Curran’s late order heroics and Ben Stokes’ fiery spell in the second innings tilted the match England’s way. It was a contest of fine margins and intense cricketing drama, one that could’ve gone either way. A modern-day classic that set the tone for the series.
4. Boom Boom at Lord’s – 2021
In a fiery contest at Lord’s during the 2021 tour, India turned the tide on Day 5 with raw emotion and ruthless execution. After being reduced to 209/8 in their second innings, tailenders Mohammed Shami (56*) and Jasprit Bumrah (34*) frustrated England with a brilliant unbeaten 89-run partnership. Fired up by verbal exchanges, India breathed fire with the ball. Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami ran through England’s batting, dismissing them for 120 and sealing a famous 151-run win. The win was more than just numbers, it was attitude, aggression, and pure Test theatre at the Home of Cricket.
5. The Epic Draw – The Oval, 1979
India’s tour of England in 1979 ended with a marathon chase at The Oval that nearly became historic. Chasing 438 for victory, Sunil Gavaskar played one of the greatest fourth innings knocks in Test history, scoring a masterful 221. He shared a 213-run stand with Chetan Chauhan and kept India on course for an improbable win. But the lower order couldn’t cross the line, and the match ended in a draw with India finishing at 429/8, just nine runs shy. It was a monumental effort in an era where such chases were unheard of and remains one of India’s finest overseas fights.
Top Performers in India vs England Tests
Over the decades, the India-England Test rivalry has seen legendary performances from both sides, with batters and bowlers etching their names into the history books.
Top Batters
Joe Root: Joe Root has been the standout performer with the bat, scoring a phenomenal 2846 runs in 30 matches at an average of 58, including 10 centuries and 11 fifties.
Sachin Tendulkar: Master Blaster, follows closely with 2535 runs in 32 matches, averaging 52 with 7 hundreds and 13 fifties.
Sunil Gavaskar: One of India’s earliest batting icons, scored 2483 runs in 38 matches, including 4 centuries and 16 fifties, at an average of 38.
Top Bowlers
James Anderson: England’s pace legend, tops the wicket chart with 149 wickets in 39 matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin: India’s spin wizard, has picked up 114 wickets in just 24 matches.
BS Chandrasekhar: With his unorthodox leg spin, he claimed 95 wickets in 23 matches and played a pivotal role during the 1970s.
India vs England – Rivalry Facts You Should Know
1)Highest Individual Score
Graham Gooch’s 333 at Lord’s in 1990 remains the highest individual score in India-England Tests.
2)Biggest Margin of Victory
India’s 434-run win in Rajkot (2024) is the largest margin by runs in their rivalry.
3) Lord’s Love Story
England have won 16 out of 19 matches at Lord’s, making it their strongest venue. However, India’s wins in 2014 and 2021 have started to shift the narrative.
4) Chepauk Dominance
India remain unbeaten against England at Chennai since 1985, with a mix of wins and draws.
FAQs: India vs England Head-to-Head Insights
Q1: Who has won more matches – India or England?
England lead the Test head‑to‑head with 51 wins, compared to India’s 35 victories. England’s dominance has been stronger historically, particularly on home soil.
Q2: When did India and England last play each other?
Their most recent Test clash was from March 7 to 9th, 2024, at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala. India secured a commanding victory by an innings and 64 runs, powered by centuries from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, and a match haul of nine wickets by Ravichandran Ashwin in his 100th Test.
Q3: Who scored the most runs in India vs England Tests?
Joe Root is the leading run‑scorer in this rivalry, amassing 2,846 runs in 30 Tests at an average of around 58, including 10 centuries and 11 fifties.