When bat met ball and brilliance followed — five iconic performances that turned the tide in one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries
India vs England in Test cricket isn’t just a clash of nations. It’s a saga of resilience, shifting conditions, mental warfare, and sudden game-changers. Among all the stars who have graced this stage, a few rare names have stood tall with both bat and ball — sometimes within the same five days, under fierce pressure, across hostile spells and treacherous pitches.
What makes these all-round feats legendary isn’t simply the scorecard. It’s the moments — walking in at 50/5 and swinging the game back, or charging in on Day 4 and taking the key scalp that flips the match on its head. These five performances weren’t just dominant — they were defining.
When England faced India at Lord’s in 2021, the match hung in the balance. India batted first and scored 364, but Stokes remained unbothered. Coming in with England slightly in trouble, he fought hard for a gritty 82 off 170 balls, hitting 9 fours and a six. His innings steadied the team, helping England reduce the deficit and gain a small lead.
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However, it was with the ball in India’s second innings that Stokes truly shone at Lord’s. Bowling short and aggressively, he disrupted India’s middle order, claiming 4 wickets for only 40 runs, including the important dismissals of Pujara and Pant. The game slipped from England’s grasp because India’s tail wagged fiercely, but Stokes’ spell was the turning point that nearly changed the outcome.
In 2014, Moeen Ali wasn’t the first name on the team sheet. But by the end of the third Test at Southampton, he had made his mark. Batting first, England needed partnerships, and Moeen contributed with a graceful 87 off 148, helping them post a strong total.
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Then came the drama. On a worn fifth-day surface, Moeen unleashed his off-spin and tore through India’s line-up, taking 6/67 in the fourth innings, adding to his 2 wickets in the first. His sharp turn and bounce triggered a collapse, and India folded for just 178.
India’s second Test in Chennai during the 2021 series was scrutinised. The pitch turned early, pundits howled, but Ravichandran Ashwin ignored the noise. First, he took 5/43 in England’s first innings, using flight, guile, and bounce to outthink the batters.
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Then, under pressure with India wobbling at 106/6, he strode in. With calm control and classical strokeplay, Ashwin scored a majestic 106 off 148 balls — turning the match on its head. In England’s final innings, he took three more wickets, sealing the game and silencing critics.
This was more than a game — it was a historic shift. Facing England in Madras in 1952, Vinoo Mankad made it clear that India was no longer a pushover. Opening the innings, he batted for over four hours, grinding out a glorious 184 off 346 balls, guiding India to a massive 457.
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He then bowled tirelessly, delivering 97.2 overs across both innings, taking 5 wickets. England were bowled out twice. The result? India’s first-ever Test victory over England — an innings win at that.
You seek domination? Ian Botham executed a complete demolition in Mumbai in 1980. England were 58/5 when Botham came in. What followed was a counter-punching assault — 114 off 144 balls, 17 boundaries, and 1 six, saving his team and changing the pace of the game.
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With the ball, he was unstoppable. A five-wicket haul in the first innings was formidable, but his 7/48 in the second was surgical. Reverse swing, venom, relentless — India had no answers.
