As Manchester awaits its next chapter, these five have already inked theirs in gold
It has been a story of reinvention—of batters rewriting scripts, of a team stepping out from the long shadow of its golden era. Gone are Kohli's on-drives and Pujara's barricades. In their place stands a younger, bolder group, one that believes in counterpunches and chaos as much as in technique and temperament.
Through three Tests that have provided everything—searing pace, fifth-day tension, these five Indian batters have been the heartbeat of the tour.
Matches: 3 | Innings: 6 | 100s: 3 | Avg: 101.16
If 2021 belonged to Kohli's intensity, 2025 belongs to Gill's composure. In his first whole series as captain, he hasn't just led from the front—he's sprinted miles ahead. His 147 in the first innings at Headingley was assertive, played against a moving Dukes ball after India were sent in to bat.
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Then came the magnum opus at Edgbaston—269 off 387 balls, the highest score by an Indian Test captain, surpassing even Virat Kohli. As if one mountain wasn't enough, he added another: 161 off 162 in the second innings, driving India to an unassailable total.
Matches: 3 | Innings: 6 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 2 | Avg: 70.83
Rishabh Pant carries little weight from expectations, likely because he rarely remains still long enough. At Headingley, he made history as the first Indian wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test. His 134 in the second innings showcased perfect timing—a comeback after a setback, just as the match seemed to be slipping away.
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His strike rate of 78.41 hasn't been reckless but rather a form of redemption. Throughout the series, he surpassed MS Dhoni as the Indian wicketkeeper with the most centuries and sixes in Tests.
Matches: 3 | Innings: 6 | 100s: 2 | Avg: 62.50
If Gill is the architect and Pant the firestarter, KL Rahul is the granite wall. At the top of the order, Rahul has consistently delivered strong performances. At Headingley, when India lost an early wicket, he dug in with a patient 137 off 247 balls in the second innings. At Lord's, on a pitch with venom, he crafted a 100 off 177 balls, anchoring India to parity after England's first-innings 387.
Rahul's ability to adjust his pace has been India's insurance policy. He has now scored 1,000 Test runs against England and remains India's most reliable option in seaming conditions.
Matches: 3 | Innings: 6 | 50s: 4 | Avg: 109.00
Jadeja's batting in this series hasn't been flashy, but it's been essential. Four half-centuries—each arriving when India was on the brink—highlight his contribution. His 61* at Lord's in the second innings, as wickets fell at the other end, nearly secured an unlikely chase.
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His 89 at Edgbaston, with Gill partnering him, added strength to a 587-run first innings. He's been unbeaten in half of his innings, acting as the ideal finisher without ever being labelled as one.
Matches: 3 | Innings: 6 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 1 | Avg: 38.83
Yashasvi Jaiswal's journey in this series has been the most volatile, like a fire that sometimes spreads too quickly for its own good. But when he's clicked, it's been irresistible. His 101 at Headingley, in the first innings, was swift—an innings that crushed England's hopes of survival.
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He hasn't yet mastered the moving ball consistently, and his dismissals often cause frustration. But he's already surpassed 2,000 Test runs and remains India's most exciting stroke-player since Sehwag.
