From Leeds to Lord’s, a look back at five unforgettable innings where India’s batters fell like dominoes against England’s fierce bowling attacks
Cricket, at its heart, is a game of glorious uncertainties. One day, your batters accumulate runs for fun; the next, the scoreboard resembles a graveyard of single digits. While India boasts some iconic batting triumphs over England in England, there have also been days when the willow refused to speak, and the stumps did all the talking.
As the 2025 India-England Test series continues, we look back at five innings in which Indian batting suffered epic collapses under relentless English conditions. These aren't mere statistical footnotes—they are part of the rivalry's fabric, stitched together with heartbreak, hindsight, and hard lessons.
Chasing England's mammoth first-innings score of 629, India was dismissed for 302 and asked to follow on. What ensued was nothing short of a nightmare. Under grey skies and seam-friendly conditions, the Indian batting line-up was bowled out for a mere 42 runs in 17 overs, their lowest-ever total in Tests.
Credit: ESPN
Chris Old and Geoff Arnold shared 9 wickets as the visitors had no answer to the swing. Only Eknath Solkar (18*) reached double figures. England won by an innings and 285 runs, and India left the field scarred by what came to be known as the 'Summer of Shame'.
On their 1952 tour, India faced a young Fred Trueman, who aggressively attacked with the new ball. England declared their first innings at 347/9, and India collapsed to 58 in response, thanks to Trueman's fiery 8-wicket haul (8/31).
Credit: Cricket.com
The follow-on innings was just as dismal. India was dismissed for 82, and England won by an innings and 207 runs. This Test served as a sharp wake-up call to the challenges of playing in English conditions.
The modern era wasn't spared either. In the third Test of the 2021 series, India batted first at Headingley after a high from their Lord's win. But what followed shocked everyone—India was dismissed for 78 in under 41 overs.
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James Anderson struck early, dismissing KL Rahul, Pujara, and Kohli in a magical spell. Ollie Robinson and Craig Overton cleaned up the tail. England responded with 432, and despite a second-innings fightback, India lost by an innings and 76 runs.
India needed a stable batting performance in response to England's 298 in the first innings. Instead, they were skittled for 92 in just 36.3 overs. England's seamers, led by David Brown (3/17)- exploited the pitch expertly, and India never stood a chance.
Farokh Engineer's 23 was the highest score. England won the match by 132 runs, and India's first innings collapse paved the way.
India attempted to improve their performance after the humiliating score of 58 in the first innings. However, they only marginally fared better, scoring 82 this time. Alec Bedser and Tony Lock were winking easily at the visitors, taking 9 wickets between them.
Credit: Chase Your Sport
India's combined total of 140 across two innings remains one of the lowest ever in a completed Test. It was a match best forgotten—unless you're an England supporter.
