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The inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 series between England and India is currently in full swing, with the home side, England, holding a 2-1 lead after three gripping Test matches.
Battle for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy
The series began with a high-scoring encounter at Headingley, where India posted a massive first-innings total but ultimately lost by 5 wickets. The second Test at Edgbaston saw a dominant performance from India, registering a resounding 336-run victory, highlighted by Shubman Gill‘s record-breaking double century. The most recent contest at Lord’s was a nail-biting affair, with India suffering a heartbreaking 22-run defeat despite a valiant fightback led by Ravindra Jadeja.
India, chasing 193 for victory, fell short in a dramatic finish. Injuries have significantly impacted both squads, with key Indian players like all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacer Arshdeep Singh ruled out of the remainder of the series and the upcoming fourth Test in Manchester, respectively. As the series heads to Manchester for the crucial fourth Test, the stakes are incredibly high for India to level the series and keep their hopes alive for the coveted trophy.
India’s predicted playing XI for the 4th Test in Manchester against England
1. KL Rahul
Rahul has been in exceptional form, standing out as one of India’s most consistent batters. He has amassed 375 runs in three Tests at an impressive average of 62.50, including two centuries and a fifty. His century at Lord’s was a testament to his improved technique and mental fortitude in English conditions. Rahul is just 11 runs away from achieving 1,000 Test runs in England, an elite milestone, and has now four centuries in Tests in England, joint second most by an Indian after Rahul Dravid (six).
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Jaiswal has shown glimpses of his aggressive style but has struggled for consistency in this series. His shot selection has come under scrutiny, particularly after his dismissal at Lord’s for 13 runs. While he has the potential to provide quick starts, he will be looking to convert his starts into more substantial scores in the crucial Manchester Test.
3. Dhruv Jurel
Jurel has impressed with his composure and solid technique in his limited opportunities. He has scored 202 runs in 6 innings across 4 Tests in his career. He came in as a substitute for Rishabh Pant in the previous Test due to Pant’s finger injury and conceded 25 byes in the second innings. He has been working closely with coaching staff, showing good maturity, and contributing crucial runs with the bat when given the chance.
4. Shubman Gill
As the captain, Gill has had an imperious series with the bat so far, leading the batting charts for India with a staggering 607 runs. His double century at Edgbaston and consistent scoring have cemented his role as India’s batting mainstay. Gill’s leadership will also be vital as India aims to bounce back and level the series.
5. Rishabh Pant
Pant has been India’s second-highest run-scorer in the series, showcasing his fearless batting with 425 runs. Despite a finger injury sustained while keeping wickets during the first innings at Lord’s, he continued to bat and scored a scintillating fifty. He is currently on the verge of breaking a significant Indian Test record: he is tied with Rohit Sharma with 88 Test sixes, and needs just three more to surpass Virender Sehwag‘s all-time Indian record of 90 Test sixes. His ability to change the momentum of the game with his aggressive approach makes him a vital cog in India’s batting lineup.
6. Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja has been a solid all-round contributor for India in this series. With the bat, he has displayed remarkable resilience, especially his valiant unbeaten 56 off 150 deliveries at Lord’s, which was his fourth consecutive 50-plus score in Test matches in England. His left-arm spin also provides control and wicket-taking options, making him indispensable to the team’s balance, Jadeja has further scored 327 runs so far in the series.
7. Shardul Thakur
Thakur has featured in the series, with his recent match against England on June 20, 2025, showing him scoring 4 runs and taking 2 wickets in one innings, and 1 run and 0 wickets in another. While he has a knack for picking up crucial wickets, his primary role has been as a supportive bowler, and he picked up two key wickets at Leeds. His overall Test stats against England show 178 runs and 12 wickets in 5 matches.
8. Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep is yet to feature in the series, with the team opting for pace-heavy attacks. However, calls for his inclusion are growing, especially with Old Trafford potentially assisting spinners. Kuldeep’s primary quality is his unique left-arm wrist-spin, a rare commodity in Test cricket that can be incredibly difficult for batsmen to read. His ability to turn the ball both ways, especially his deceptive googly, makes him a genuine wicket-taking threat, even on pitches that offer little assistance. He possesses excellent control and variations, including flippers and sliders, which can tie down batsmen and induce errors.
9. Anshul Kambhoj
Kambhoj has been added to the squad as cover for injured pacers, and this would be his potential Test debut. Kambhoj, if he were to debut, would bring a set of valuable qualities to the Indian pace attack. As a fast bowler, he’d be expected to offer good pace and bounce, a crucial asset in English conditions that often assist seam movement. His potential inclusion suggests he has the ability to sustain pressure and bowl disciplined lines and lengths. As a developing pacer, he’d be looking to make an immediate impact with his work ethic and commitment to the team’s cause.
10. Mohammed Siraj
Siraj has been one of India’s frontline pacers, often providing crucial breakthroughs. Since the beginning of 2024, Siraj has bowled 423.3 overs in Tests, making him the second-highest workload seamer globally after Jasprit Bumrah. He averages 12.83 overs per innings, showing frequent but shorter spells. His unfortunate dismissal at Lord’s, a crucial wicket that sealed India’s defeat, will be something he’d want to put behind him.
11. Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah has been exceptional, leading the pace attack with his incisive bowling. He picked up a five-wicket haul at Lord’s and has been a constant threat to the England batters. He leads all seamers in Test cricket since the start of 2024 with around 450 overs bowled. He is also the only Test bowler to have taken more than 200 wickets at an average below 20 (217 wickets in 47 Tests at 19.48 average) and became the first Asian bowler ever to take 150 Test wickets in SENA countries during this series.
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