Subhechcha Ganguly 
Wow, isn’t this quite a season to be a test cricket fan? The last WTC cycle is complete and South Africa’s title drought is over. 27 years of waiting culminated in a victory at Lord’s, which will be remembered by South Africans for a lifetime. Team India had a fighting chance of making it to the final of the World Test Championship, however, coming second-best in Australia and losing a home series against New Zealand didn’t do our case any good!
However, everything’s in the past, and we are dealing with unfamiliar territory considering the sudden retirements of legendary players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli; and Ravichandran Ashwin calling time, midway through the Border-Gavaskar series.
Suddenly there are gaping holes in the Test Cricket team, and we are unsure how the new boys will perform in the 5-match test series, recently rechristened to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy! While there was an outcry about the renaming, considering it was known as the Pataudi Trophy earlier, however, sense has prevailed and a special medallion in honour of the Pataudis will be given to the winning captain of the series.
As the test series begins on June 20, 2025, millions of Indian fans will inquisitively watch how the new generation takes on the English cricketers on their home soil. It isn’t going to be easy, and India hasn’t won a test series in England since 2007. Also, our track record in swinging English conditions isn’t something to boast about; however, over the past decade, our teams have become better travellers, and the last series in 2021-22 being a prime example of the India-England series being the torchbearer of Test Cricket.
A lot of cricket pundits have given their verdict in favour of England, some even saying it could be a whitewash; however, let’s be true cricket fans and give both teams their due.
It will be Bazball vs Gen-Next India, and I hope we come out on top. The last series was drawn 2-2, under dramatic circumstances. Perhaps, this time, with a new look team and the English team in transition mode too, the scoreline could be tighter than we expected!
While our love and respect for the brilliance of Kohli and Rohit will continue, we sincerely hope their work ethic and determination to excel in Test Cricket rub off on the new generation.
Let the purists rejoice, and may we be treated to a brilliant summer of Test Cricket!
