- June 13, 2025
England is by far viewed as the absolute test for a batter. The seaming conditions, the gloom and overcast skies, and in addition, the poor little Duke’s ball seem to do everything that they can to terrorize the batter. While bowlers think of it as a batting paradise, it is a very hard task for batters, even the best ones. There have been more Indian icons who have made batting in England look very easy, and there are also so many who have had illustrious careers without even a century in England. Therefore, let’s focus on five legendary Indian batters who had no centuries in England.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan’s fearless strokeplay made him a crowd-puller wherever he played—but in England, his bat seemed to lose its voice. Despite racking up seven Test hundreds around the world, he couldn’t even scratch out a single fifty on English soil. Between 2014 and 2018, Dhawan featured in seven Tests there and managed only 284 runs at a disappointing average of 20.28. His highest score, a modest 44 at Nottingham, felt like a shadow of his usual self. The swinging Duke’s ball wasted no time exposing his technique, especially early on.
VVS Laxman
Laxman is a name now almost synonymous with elegant wrists, miracle innings, particularly against Australia. But what about his history (or lack thereof) in England? Quite frankly, not much. Eleven Tests in England, between 2002 and 2011, with five half centuries but none converting to a hundred! His highest score of 74 at Lord’s had much promise but never turned into a hundred. With overall English Test runs of 586 at an average of 34.47, there was nothing wrong with that, but Laxman was rarely the match-winner for India in England.
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni, a player who seldom gave in to pressure, had decent success in England but still never made a century there. Having played 12 Tests from 2007-2014, he has scored a total of 778 runs at 37.04 with eight fifties. His highest score was a brisk 92 from 81 balls at The Oval in 2007 that used the classic Dhoni hitting style, along with the audacity of his attacking plays. But the big one? Not a single one. Whether that was due to the constant movement off the pitch or just bad luck, his bat could never quite roar abundantly in the full English summer sunshine.
Vijay Hazare & Pankaj Roy
Not all of the unfinished Indian business in England is related to the recent greats. Hazare and Roy were also two of India cricket’s old-fashioned icons, and they experienced their hindrances regarding centuries scored in England. He might have had a less-than-comforting recollection of being 89 at Leeds in 1952 when the magical three-figure mark eluded him. Roy opened for India in the 1950s, and his hardship in amassing runs is staggering – Roy had a total of 233 runs in nine Tests at 13.70. His innings of 54 at Nottingham was a crude version of a half-century. Different times, same story. England had no mercy on them, either.
So, what is it about England that has been the last frontier for even some of India’s best batters? The conditions? The bowlers? The pressure? Possibly even all the above. What is clear is that even the greats have their Achilles’ heels. As India enters a new red-ball phase under Shubman Gill, fans will remain fascinated – is he the one to conquer England, where so many before him have failed?
Which currently active Indian batter do you think has it in him to finally master the English code? Drop your selection in the comments!
For more, visit JeetBuzz News to read our quality Cricket Blog updates. Explore if you want to reminisce and enjoy all of your favourite cricket players and nostalgic match moments. To ensure that you never miss out, keep updated and join in the fun!
