- August 3, 2025
Cricket has this funny way of flipping the script just when you think the ending is written. For India, bowling comebacks have become a calling card—especially after opposition openers lay down the gauntlet. There’s something electric about watching a team go from battered to boss-mode, and Indian bowlers have mastered that transition. Be it raw pace, crafty spin, or pure grit, they’ve repeatedly pulled games back from the brink.
Siraj’s Magic Moment: Turning the Oval Test on Its Head (ENG vs IND, 5th Test, 2025)
At first glance, the series decider of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy seemed like it would drift into a dull, one-sided affair. England’s openers—Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley—looked like they were batting on a trampoline, smashing 92 runs in just 12 overs. Indian fans could’ve been forgiven for peeking through their fingers.
Enter Akash Deep with the breakthrough, and then—bang! —Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna turned the game into a demolition job. England went from 92-0 to 195-5 before eventually folding for 247. What felt like a platform for 500 turned into a pothole. The fightback wasn’t just tactical; it was psychological.
The Day Kumble Went Full Superhero (IND vs PAK, 2nd Test, 1999)
If Test cricket had a Marvel moment, this was it. That 101-run opening stand was less a partnership and more a jailbreak—flinging open the door to an improbable chase.
It was his day. He would take 8 of the 10 Pakistani wickets, traipse and kick them back to the pavilion with eagerness to take the other 2 too. Yes 10!!! They went from a comfortable 101-0 to being bowled out for 207.
Burns and Hameed Turned London Fog into a Fortress (ENG vs IND, 4th Test, 2021)
After the setback in Leeds, India’s 2021 England tour was hanging in the balance, with everything to play for. At The Oval, England’s openers Burns and Hameed built a hundred-run partnership, looking to make the chase soft on England’s home ground.
But the Indian bowlers weren’t having it. Led by a mix of patience and pressure, they dismantled England’s lineup to bowl them out for 210. What looked like a match slipping away turned into a statement win, giving India a 2-1 series lead. Classic chokehold comeback.
From Warner’s Cyclone to Umesh’s Lightning Bolts (AUS vs IND, 3rd Test, 2012)
There are times when the outcome ceases to be really that important. In which case, after two Test matches with two heavy defeats for India, they were facing opening batsmen Warner and Cowan (minutes earlier, they had obliterated the Indian bowling attack at Perth). That 214-run partnership? Think Cowan the craftsman, and Warner the wrecking ball on a time trial.
When the match looked like a batting festival, Umesh arrived with demolition tools and shut the gates at 301-5. So even with the heavy defeat for India (by an innings), the bowling display was a timely reminder, for some, that India might go down, but has a habit of fighting back hard.
Compton & Cook’s Calm: Then Chaos (IND vs ENG, 1st Test, 2012)
England tried to play the long game after following on in Ahmedabad. Openers Nick Compton and Alastair Cook built a slow and steady 123-run stand. It was the kind of start that could’ve easily turned into a miracle comeback.
Instead, the Indian spinners, led by Pragyan Ojha, hit back hard. Five quick wickets followed, and England’s hopes of avoiding defeat crumbled. While they did put up more resistance than in their first innings, India sealed the game comfortably.
