‘Rivalry adds so much to the charms of one's conquests’ is a famous quote that sits well with the magnitude of the India vs England rivalry in Test cricket. It is a rivalry that always supersedes narratives, a rivalry that puts the team’s red-ball legacies to the Test and a rivalry that is a battle of modern cricket ideologies.

The India vs England Test rivalry has given cricket fans some iconic, some historic and some euphoric memories to look back to, with the cast including some of our very own stars that have donned the Blue and Gold.

So here we are, rewinding the clock to the last 20 years and reminiscing the best moments by our current MI players in IND vs ENG Tests.

PC: Straight from the under-19s to Tests (2006)

At 17 years and 75 days, Piyush Chawla became the second-youngest Test debutant for India, after being roped in immediately after the 2006 Under-19 World Cup to play the test against England in Mohali. And in true fashion, he went for the biggest fish in the opposition camp for his maiden Test wicket. His victim? Andrew Flintoff.

Chawla grabs four in a marathon spell (2012)

Six years later, making a comeback of sorts, he pulled out his career-best 4/69 in the Nagpur Test against England. On a batting friendly pitch that saw England cruise to a 300-plus score, Professor PC snuck in with a four-wicket haul to ease the pressure on the Indian bowling, who conceded 50 runs on average in the first innings. Ultimately, the match ended in a draw.

Hardik’s maiden fifer in Tests (2018)

The newest Mumbai Indians skipper set Trent Bridge ablaze with his 29-ball five-wicket haul, his maiden fifer in red-ball cricket that made him the second-quickest Indian to take five wickets in an innings (after Harbhajan Singh - 27 balls vs West Indies, 2006).

He dismissed Joe Root (24.1 overs), Jonny Bairstow (30.1 overs), Chris Woakes (30.6 overs), Adil Rashid (32.1 overs) and Stuart Broad (32.5 overs) to spearhead India’s charge of dismissing the entire English batting order in Session 2 of Day 2 of the third ENG vs IND Test.

Bumrah initiates victory lap at Nottingham (2018)

Taking a cue from Hardik Pandya’s fifer in the first innings, Jasprit Bumrah went on the offensive. He grabbed his second career five-wicket haul in Tests, ultimately setting the stage for India’s 203-run triumph. BOOM BOOM cleaned up the English middle and lower order, even dismissing centurion Jos Buttler, who airlifted the hosts from 62/4 to 231/5.

Rohit as-TON-ishes England with blitzkrieg century (2021)

India was trailing 0-1 in the four-match Test series at home, and required a Hitman special to make a resounding comeback and keep their WTC 2021 final hopes alive. With the Chennai pitch turning left, right and centre, Ro-HIT Sharma slammed 161 runs off 231 balls laced with 18 boundary fours and two sixes. From there on, India regained authority in the series.

Under pressure to defend a score? Dial Jasprit Bumrah (2021)

India gave England 272 runs to chase in 60 overs. And shouldering the responsibility of taking the Englishmen down, BOOM BOOM began his bowling spell with the wicket of Rory Burns in his very first over. He then fished out Joe Root, the spine of England’s run-scoring prowess in the series. And finally, just like an exciting finish to a thriller movie, Jasprit Bumrah bowled a slower ball to trap Olly Robinson in front in the last hour of Day 5 and sealed a triumphant victory for India at Lord’s.

Cometh the hour, cometh the Ro-HIT-man (2021)

India began their second innings of The Oval Test with a trail of 99 runs, and then what happened next is history. With every shot oozing a trademark sense of grit, excellence and authority, Rohit Sharma hit 127 runs off 256 balls to set the foundation for a score of 466. His effort proved successful as India secured a memorable 157-run victory.

A captain’s knock: The Jasprit Bumrah edition (2021)

Just when England thought they had wrapped up India’s first innings at Birmingham, the then stand-in captain of the Indian team stepped forward and defied all odds with ONE iconic over. But wait! This time, as a batter. Stuart Broad bowled the 84th over of India’s innings, and he would concede a record 35 runs - with four fours and two sixes. So, who was smashing it? Jasprit BOOMrah.

Bumrah ensures Vizag is on Cloud Nine (2024)

In his 15.5 overs bowled in the first innings at Vizag, Jasprit Bumrah used his ethereal in-swing, reverse swing, and toe-crushing yorkers to have the English batters on the floor. One memorable wicket of his fabulous spell was the dismissal of Ollie Pope. Bowling at over 140 clicks, Bumrah didn’t just knock on the door but crashed through the gates of Pope’s defence with his trademark in-swing delivery. His 6/45 on a spin-friendly track saw BOOM BOOM become the quickest Indian pacer to 150 Test wickets by games played (34) and balls bowled (6781 balls), and also register the best Test figures by an Indian pacer in the 21st century. His match figures of 9/91 meant he was the first bowler to take nine wickets in India-England Tests both at home and away (9/110 vs England, Nottingham, 2021).