India vs England: A draw that feels like a win — or a missed opportunity?

A 2-2 result? Fair, perhaps. But India could’ve clinched the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, if not for some baffling selections and late-order collapses.

Still, a draw is better than a 1-3 loss. Years from now, the scoreline will be all that matters — not how closely India fought or how often they dominated.

Frankly, I was braced for a whitewash. No Virat Kohli, no Rohit Sharma, no Ravichandran Ashwin. A young team, a new captain, and English conditions? Expectations were low. I saw it as a learning tour — a foundation for the future.

The world’s best fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, played only three Tests, giving the impression India weren’t chasing the series too hard. Preserving his career makes sense, but ironically, India won the games he didn’t play. That’s down to Mohammed Siraj’s fire that fetched 23 wickets, which was backed by Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep, who were largely patchy.

Captain Shubman Gill impressed with the bat, silencing critics of his overseas record. But inexperience showed in his leadership. Tactical errors, conservative selections, and a lack of aggression were clear in his field settings. Finger-wagging at Zak Crawley doesn’t count — we’re talking Kohli-style intensity.

Packing the lower middle order with bits-and-pieces allrounders over specialists was a misstep. Test cricket demands players who can walk into the team on one skill alone. Just like Ben Stokes. Shardul Thakur’s ineffective return in the fourth Test made that painfully clear.

Gill should study Kohli’s blueprint: pick five specialist bowlers, hunt 20 wickets. That wins Tests.

That said, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar stood tall with the bat. They are genuine batsmen who can bowl, but their bowling didn’t seem to turn the tide. Left-arm leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav should’ve played the first four Tests. That required courage, but Gill took the easy option.

Bold picks win matches. Captains must take risks. With time, Gill will grow into the role — captain courageous, not cautious.

Was Kohli missed? Former Indian minister Shashi Tharoor did. I didn’t. Gill filled No.4 admirably, while Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul showed their mettle. No surprise there. The Gill-Rahul show, followed by the Jadeja-Sundar stand in Manchester, highlighted India’s depth. Sai Sudarshan deserves a run at No.3. Karun Nair at No.5? Jury’s still out, though his Oval fifty helps his case.

India’s pacers thrived on flat tracks; the same cannot be said about the spinners. That’s something for Gill to ponder.

In the end, 2-2 feels like both a relief and a regret.