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.

ALSO READ: What are the highest successful 200+ chases in Tests at Lord’s before SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final?

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.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) have lost eight of the nine chasing matches in IPL 2025. Five of these were by a margin of 11 runs or less. They were largely ahead of the opposition in four of these chasing attempts. They were in one back from a comeback position but they were favourites at the beginning of the final five overs. However, only two of their targets this IPL have been under 200, and none under 180. Coach Rahul Dravid has said their bowling was equally to blame if not more than the batting.

"It's been a tough one," Dravid said when asked to assess the middle order. "We've been close, but we just can't quite get the job done. It's been one of those types of seasons where you're always with the ball thinking that we give 15-20 runs more and then you put yourself in really good positions to win the games, but we just can't quite get the job done and a bit around that lower, lower-middle order we just haven't been able to click and get those big shots that we require.".

"I mean, it's been five games now where the margins have really one or two hits which you need in that phase, which, we just haven't been able to do. So it's not that we've been losing too many wickets, we're still only five down today, but we just haven't been able to hit those shots."There's no use just holding the batsman responsible. I feel with the ball too, to be honest, I did not think it was a 220 wicket, it was more like a 195, 200 wicket, and we gave 20 runs more. If we see the statistics, we probably have not been good enough with the ball. Both at picking up wickets and dictating runs. We are running after 200-220 each game."

Also see: [WATCH] IPL 2025: Harpreet Brar's classic thigh five celebration after dismissing Riyan Parag in RR vs PBKS match

Dravid points to bowling woes, backs middle order after RR's disappointing season

Dravid indicated that it was the bowling unit that required serious improvement and hinted at preparation changes prior to the following year. "Still our batters, particularly the openers, have been giving us good starts, but we have been unable to finish the job," Dravid explained. "Work on it for the next year. A bit in the fielding too. You look at a tournament and notice just three wins, but notice the five close losses. Not an excuse, but you can't lose all five close games. We have good batting. In a year they will get even better. Maybe in the bowling, something we need to do to get better."

Dravid didn't see any reason to question the middle order's capabilities. "This is a really quality middle order," Dravid said. "You've got Riyan (Parag) and Dhruv (Jurel) and then Sanju (Samson) is playing in that middle order today as well, so that's really quality India kind of players with an overseas guy who's also playing international cricket.". "To be fair, they all had decent performances throughout the season. They didn't. Riyan played some excellent knocks, Dhruv whom we saw today played an excellent knock, perhaps Hettie at the backend possibly lost out this season, which was slightly hard on us, but that happens. That's the game.That's the nature of the game."

India's head coach Rahul Dravid shared a message full of warmth and humor to congratulate Rohit Sharma on a stand being named after him at the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The soon-to-be viral video message is a wonderful combination of warmth, wit, and admiration — a fitting representation of both players' friendship and their mutual respect as two of India's great cricketers.

When Dravid began his message, he started in a teasing tone. "Hey Rohit, I guess you have hit so many sixes into those stands, they had to name one after you," Dravid said. But it didn't take long for Dravid to acknowledge the honor for Rohit and use a sincere tone. "Just congratulations! I'm sure as a young kid growing up that this has come to that... It is a tremendous honor, and it is very well-deserved."

Describing Wankhede Stadium as one of the best cricket stadiums in the world, Dravid said, "The legendary Wankhede Stadium now actually has a Rohit Sharma stand. Some of the greatest moments of the game have happened in this stadium; it is only right that your name now be part of that."

Rahul Dravid's message to RO got us like... 🥹💙

P.S. The humour at the start & end 😂👌#MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #RohitSharmaStand | @ImRo45 | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/sdnasfUIKi

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 17, 2025

Also read: Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs rejoin Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2025 resumption

A Salute to Rohit's Legacy

Dravid reminisced about Rohit Sharma's journey and immense contributions to Mumbai and Indian cricket, and noted that the adulation is a "just reward" for all he has put in.
He then said, "You probably never envisioned a stand being named after you, but now that it has happened, I hope it was a really special day, spent with your family and friends.

He closed the eulogy by wishing best wishes, commenting on how proud everyone is of Rohit's accomplishments as a player and a leader. The note had a deep impact on fans, appreciating Rohit from when he was a boy growing up in Mumbai, to a cricketing legend, whose name now adorns the walls of the very stadium he dreamt of playing in.

Dravid's message not only captured the time but also the legacy Rohit keeps building—one six, one match, and now one stand at a time.

Wisden, the cricketing authority, released its list of the top six greatest Indian Test batters of all time on May 12, 2025, in the aftermath of Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, sparking discussions among fans and analysts. The list recognizes India's illustrious Test cricket batting history and highlights players who have played a defining role in the format with their skill, tenacity, and remarkable achievements. With years of consistency and match-winning performances, each of the six batters stamped their mark in the shortest format of Test cricket everywhere they went.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

Leading the list is Sachin Tendulkar, with his 15,921 Test runs in 200 matches at an average of 53.78 that stand unrivalled. Wisden points to his unmatched consistency over a period of 24 years, although he never reached 500 runs in a series or 250 in an innings. Tendulkar's 51 centuries and his ability to overpower attacks across the globe seal his place as India's greatest Test batsman.

2. Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar, with 10,122 runs in 125 Tests, comes second, renowned for his technical wizardry against aggressive pace attacks of the 1970s and 80s. He was the first player to cross the 10,000-run barrier in Tests, an achievement recognized by the BCCI by naming a boardroom '10000 Gavaskar' on May 15, 2025. Gavaskar's 34 centuries and away performances make him an Indian batting trailblazer.

3. Rahul Dravid

Nicknamed 'The Wall,' Rahul Dravid is placed third with 13,288 runs in 164 Tests at an average of 52.31. His marathon innings, like the 270 against Pakistan in 2004, and his performances in India's overseas wins, like the 2001 Kolkata Test, are what set him apart as great. 36 centuries and his unflappable temperament saw him become unstoppable.

4. Virat Kohli

Who retired from Tests on May 12, 2025? He is fourth overall with 9,906 runs in 123 Tests, with 30 centuries. From 2016 to 2019, Kohli was at his peak, made seven double centuries, and was the top batsman in the ICC Test rankings. Kohli was instrumental in changing India's Test fortunes overseas and played an aggressive style of Test cricket and led India to overseas success.

Also Read: List of Mumbai players honored with named stands at Wankhede stadium

5. VVS Laxman

Fifth on the list is VVS Laxman, whose 281 in Kolkata against Australia in 2001 isfrequently consideredy India's greatest Test innings. Laxman scored 8,781 runs in 134 Tests, and his wristy class plagued bowlers, most notably Australia. Hisstandsd with Dravid, particularly in comeback victories, are legendary.

Virender Sehwag

Finally, Sehwag rounds out this list with 8,586 runs in 104 Tests, playing a fearless, attacking game. His 319 against Pakistan in 2008, plus two other triple-centuries, demonstrate his dominance and his ability to redefine the Test opening batting role. With an 82.23 strike rate, Sehwag added an extra dimension to India's game when it came to playing Tests.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Rahul Dravid, despite currently recovering from an injury and moving around in a wheelchair, showed a heartfelt gesture by standing up to applaud young Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The moment came after the teenage sensation lit up the Sawai Mansingh Stadium with a breathtaking century during the IPL 2025 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT). Dravid’s emotional reaction captured the significance of Vaibhav’s remarkable achievement, reflecting the pride and joy within the Royals' camp.

In the high-stakes encounter on Monday, April 28, Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered a memorable performance against Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans. The 14-year-old left-hander unleashed a blistering knock, smashing a century off just 35 balls as Rajasthan Royals chased down a challenging target of 210. Vaibhav reached his half-century in just 17 balls and completed his hundred with a towering six over deep mid-wicket off Rashid Khan, stunning the crowd and dominating the bowlers in a breathtaking display.

See Also: Records broken by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's breathtaking innings against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025

After Vaibhav’s milestone moment, the entire Rajasthan Royals team, including Dravid and the support staff, rose to their feet to give him a rousing ovation. Dravid, who recently injured himself while playing cricket in Bengaluru, has continued traveling with the team during his recovery, providing mentorship and support. His decision to rise from his wheelchair to honor Vaibhav’s extraordinary innings highlighted the deep bond within the team and showcased the emotional impact of the young batter’s historic knock.

Watch the video;

Rahul Dravid's Cold Celebration When Vaibhav suryvanshi Reached His 100🥶💯 #vaibhavsuryavanshi #GTvsRR #RahulDravidpic.twitter.com/yn8lNuJvKx

— Pan India Review (@PanIndiaReview) April 28, 2025

Vaibhav Suryavanshi scores second fastest century in IPL

Vaibhav Suryavanshi shattered multiple records during his breathtaking innings against Gujarat Titans. He became the youngest player to score a T20 fifty, surpassing Hassan Eisakhil’s record, and also the youngest T20 centurion, overtaking Vijay Zol. His 35-ball century set a new record for the fastest IPL hundred by an Indian, breaking Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball mark from 2009. Only Chris Gayle has scored a faster IPL century, achieving it in 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013.

Suryavanshi finished with 101 runs off just 38 balls, striking seven fours and 11 sixes, and stitched a dominant 166-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal in just 11.5 overs. His innings ended when he was bowled by Prasidh Krishna. Riding on Vaibhav’s explosive knock and Jaiswal’s unbeaten 70 off 40 balls, Rajasthan Royals comfortably chased down the target with 25 balls to spare, clinching a commanding eight-wicket win.

Ahead of the scheduled IPL 2025 match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), there was a special encounter when KL Rahul connected with his former cricket player and current Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid. The teams showed mutual respect and camaraderie by enabling an emotional reunion, which occurred before the matches started during the pre-match warm-up.

As Rahul Dravid sat in a wheelchair due to his leg injury, he appeared in good spirits while exchanging greetings with KL Rahul. Through their brief conversation, Dravid delivered smiles and pleasant remarks to Delhi Capitals captain KL Rahul while displaying the strong connection shared by two cricket legends.

The meeting stood out because Dravid showed up with an obvious injury that has not prevented him from playing an active leadership role with his team members. Players of both teams witnessed him using leg braces as he communicated with them while focusing on the sports spirit above competitive efforts. Social media users gave their immediate approval to this sportsmanlike exchange, which they described as "classy and respectful sportsmanship."

RAHUL MEETS RAHUL. 💥

- KL Rahul meeting Rahul Dravid. ❤️pic.twitter.com/4U4Gy3H0vo

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 15, 2025

Also read: 'Udta hua gaya Punjab' - Fans react as Punjab Kings bundled out for 111 against KKR in IPL 2025

A Mentor’s Legacy Lives On

Through his roles as National Cricket Academy leader and then India's head coach, Rahul Dravid continued to guide numerous cricketers in their development. KL Rahul has revealed multiple times that Dravid has been instrumental in shaping his development as a cricketer. The field interaction between these former teammates on Monday displayed the lasting mentor-protégé bond that exists beyond their present team comparisons.

 The DC vs. RR match starts with great momentum because this off-field handshake already gained widespread approval for showing genuine sportsmanship in IPL 2025.

A heartwarming moment was seen before the Rajasthan Royals vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RR vs. RCB) showdown in IPL 2025, when Virat Kohli gave Rahul Dravid an emotional hug at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

In a video that went viral in no time on social media, Dravid, who is now with the Royals' support staff and was seen attending the pre-match training session in a wheelchair because of a recent injury, was spotted supervising the session. Kohli, after spotting him, ran to the veteran coach and hugged him tightly, causing a wave of nostalgia and emotion among fans.

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The official social media channels of the Rajasthan Royals on Instagram, X (previously Twitter), and Facebook posted the clip, referring to it as one of the most wholesome moments of IPL 2025 yet. The video also featured a quick, lighthearted conversation between Kohli, Dravid, and Royals' captain Sanju Samson, with all three observed laughing heartily.

Whether you’re a young one or number 18, pehle toh Rahul bhai se hi milna hai 💗💗 pic.twitter.com/sfXARNYM4u

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 12, 2025

Jaipur to Host Its First IPL 2025 Match

The 28th IPL 2025 match is the season's first game at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Rajasthan Royals will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru in what is shaping up to be an exciting afternoon encounter on April 13.
With glamorous lineups on both sides with players like Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson, Josh Hazlewood, Rajat Patidar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Jofra Archer, fans are looking forward to fireworks in Jaipur.

Also read: DC vs MI : Match 29 Weather and Pitch Report – IPL 2025

RCB is now fifth in the points table, having won three and lost two in five matches. They are looking to come back strongly after a loss to Delhi Capitals in their previous match. Rajasthan Royals, by contrast, have had an inconsistent season so far with two wins and three losses, keeping them seventh. Their recent loss to Gujarat Titans will make them seek a solid turnaround at home.

Since emotions were running high even before the first ball was bowled, Kohli and Dravid's hugs reminded one of the strong ties cricket creates—crossing teams, roles, and generations.

Rahul Dravid the wall is always been insiprational to the game. After leaving the position of Head coach from Indian Cricket Team he has taken up the job for coaching Rajasthan Royals. He has been part of Rajasthan Royals as player from 2011 to 2014. Where he led the team for last 2 years and after that mentored the team as well. Rahul Dravid calmness and steadiness have proved that his experience never fails under the tuff circumstances. 

Dravid had a great coaching tenure for team India ledding team India into the finals of 50 over world cup but couldn't able to win the last one. Yet he achieved the feat of winning the second World T20 title for India. Yet right after down from Indian Coach he was hired straight back as Rajasthan Royals head coach. 

Read More: Sanju Samson Shares His Hardships Before The IPL 2025

A Setback Never Excepted

IPL 2025 is just 10 days away and teams have started their sessions. Rahul Dravid has been hired by Rajasthan Royals as a coach servicing them for 4 years. Its return to his den, Rajasthan Royals would be expecting the same magic by him which he did for Team India last Year. Rajasthan Royals after winning their first edition never won the IPL trophy and they would have headed for it before they got this news. 

It has been reported that Rahul Dravid has not joined the pre-sessions camp for the team as he suffered a leg injury while playing cricket in Bengaluru but it has been assured to the fans that he is been recovering well. The franchise has recently shared the picture of the head coach having a strap around his legs which has stated that he will join the camp before the season commences. 

Head Coach Rahul Dravid, who picked up an injury while playing Cricket in Bangalore, is recovering well and will join us today in Jaipur 💗 pic.twitter.com/TW37tV5Isj

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 12, 2025

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Captain Samson On Hail For His Coach Dravid

In a recent interview with jio hotstar Captain Samson Samson has shared lots of views and he precceds that the retained players posses that talent thats why they have been chosen by the franchise. On coming back Rahul Dravid as coach he said he is excited about it, he played under him as a player in 2014 when he was the captain of the team. 

He said he was the one who spotted me when he was impressed by my batting style and asked me would play for my team. It was such an honour to play with him and sharing the dressing room with him was such a proud moment. I learned a lot from him and he as a head coach for us will be especially a big boost for me. 

Virat Kohli made history during the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final between India and Australia. After Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, Kohli reached a major milestone on the field after taking the catch of Inglis.  

He broke Rahul Dravid’s record of catching by taking a crucial catch to dismiss Josh Inglis in Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling. Australia’s batters putting up a strong fight against India in a crucial semi-final. 

With this catch, Kohli became the Indian player with the most catches in international cricket. Just a few days ago, he had also broken Mohammad Azharuddin’s record for the most catches by an Indian in ODIs. Kohli now has 335 catches across all formats, just ahead of Dravid, who had 334. Dravid took 332 catches for India and two while playing for Asia XI and World XI. No other Indian player has taken more than 300 catches in international cricket.

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Most Catches For India In International Cricket

In cricket, many players give their best in their early twenties. But there are cricketers who score runs in big numbers even after age 30. This demonstrates that their experience, patience, and coaching change the game. 

1. Rohit Sharma – 36 Centuries

Rohit Sharma is one of the most successful batsmen in modern cricket. Though he started in 2007, he emerged as a top player after crossing the age of 30 years.

• His biggest transformation came when he became an opening batsman for his team in ODIs.
  
•  He has scored more than one double century in ODIs, a rare feat.
  
•  As a captain, he has successfully led India and continues to score centuries.
  
•  Rohit still plays international cricket, so he may add more centuries to this record.

2. Sachin Tendulkar – 35 Centuries

Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in cricket history. Even after turning 30, he continued to dominate world cricket.

• He played some of his best innings in his 30s, including a double century in ODIs.
• In the 2011 World Cup, he played a key role in India’s victory.
• His consistency across formats made him one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
• Even though younger players came into the team, Sachin remained India's best batsman until he retired in 2013.

ALSO READ:Most Runs Conceded by Indian Bowlers in a Single Over in ODI Cricket

3. Rahul Dravid – 26 Centuries

Rahul Dravid (known as "The Wall") was one of the most sure-fire batters from India in cricket.

• India won many matches due to his defense and patience in waiting.
  
• He hit some big knocks in Tests, at his most important in away matches in his 30s.
  
• He scored hundreds in the challenging English, Australian, and South African conditions.
  
• The Indian player, in his special role in the Indian navy especially in Test matches.
  
• Dravid was so good at playing these long innings that he was one of the most crucial players.

4. Virat Kohli – 19 Centuries

Virat Kohli one of the fittest, most serious players to follow this sports in history. Although the 20s are when he played hundreds he still was consistent after he turned 30 and scored many big hundreds.

• Test, ODI & T20 all centuries.
  
• His 2022 T20 World Cup innings vs Pakistan was one of his best outputs so far.
  
• It makes him tough at his age, by having aggressive batting and fitness level.
  
• Virat Kohli will continue to play internationally and definitely add more this that

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Other Notable Mentions

• Sunil Gavaskar
• Virender Sehwag
• MS Dhoni