India will take on England in a much awaited five-match Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. This series begins the 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. As the Men in Blue prepare for another tough challenge in England, let’s rewind and relive some of the finest batting efforts by Indian players on English soil in the 21st century.

Rahul Dravid (146 at The Oval, 2011)

The 2011 tour was a nightmare for India, ending in a 4-0 series defeat. But one man stood tall Rahul Dravid. Known as ‘The Wall’, Dravid was India’s best performer with the bat, scoring three centuries in the series. His unbeaten 146 runs at The Oval stood out. He opened the innings and carried his bat, facing 266 balls and hitting 20 boundaries in a historic day. Even though India lost the match and the series, Dravid’s fight and class shone through what he has and how he can play in crucial games.

Rohit Sharma (127 at The Oval, 2021)

Rohit Sharma answered all the questions about his overseas form with a calm and classy century at The Oval in 2021. In the fourth Test, India were 99 runs behind, and the pressure was on. But Rohit stayed focused, batted with patience, and scored a brilliant 127. His knock changed the course of the match and helped India take control. It was one of his best Test innings away from home.

KL Rahul (129 at Lord’s, 2021)

KL Rahul’s hundred at the Lord’s came in the second Test of the 2021 series. He, along with Rohit Sharma, gave India a strong start and pull down england, putting on 123 runs for the first wicket . Rahul’s knock of 129 came off 250 balls with 12 fours and a six. His calm and composed innings helped India post 364 in the first innings, and they went on to win the match by 151 runs. Scoring a century at Lord’s is always special and Rahul made it count.

Virat Kohli (149 at Edgbaston, 2018)

Before the 2018 series, critics discussed about Kohli’s ability to perform in England. He silenced them with a stunning 149 in the first Test at Edgbaston. India were in trouble at 54/2, but Kohli took charge and battled against the likes of Anderson and Broad. He smashed 22 fours and a six, fighting alone to keep India in the game. Though India lost the match by 31 runs and the series 4-1, Kohli’s knock is remembered as one of his finest away performances.

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Ajinkya Rahane (103 at Lord’s, 2014)

India’s only win in the 2014 series came at Lord’s, thanks to a gutsy knock from Ajinkya Rahane. On a green, seaming pitch, Rahane scored a brave 103 off 154 balls. He hit 15 fours and a six, and stitched a crucial 90-run stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His century helped India post 295 in the first innings, and they went on to win the match by 95 runs. It remains one of India’s most memorable wins in the overseas games.

As India gets ready for this high-stakes series, these past performances remind us of the kind of courage and skill needed to succeed in England. From Dravid’s rock-solid defence to Rahane’s cool-headed knock at Lord’s, Indian batters have shown they can rise to the occasion. With a new WTC cycle kicking off, fans will be hoping for more such magic as India aim to make history once again.