In just six months, the Indian team underwent a drastic transformation. The same group of batters who struggled in Australia had a record-breaking stint in England. The shift from the low point in Australia to the remarkable success in the European country was evident throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Shubman Gill scored 754 runs, Rishabh Pant made 479, KL Rahul contributed 532, and Ravindra Jadeja amassed 516. This kind of achievement seemed a distant dream when the team returned after the 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The squad remained mostly unchanged, with only Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli not part of the travelling squad. The conditions were different, and facing the Dukes ball in England was more challenging than playing with the Kookaburra in Australia.

The major shift came from a new approach, led by coach Gautam Gambhir. Having witnessed the downfall of Indian batting, he made sure to discard old methods and replace them with more effective and reliable tactics. According to The Indian Express, Gambhir played a key role in leading this change, which brought out the best in the batters, particularly the captain and vice-captain.

Rishabh Pant’s rise to prominence began during the 2020-21 Australia tour, with remarkable performances in Sydney and Brisbane. However, during the subsequent series, he fell short, scoring just 255 runs at an average of 28.33, which was disappointing. Shubman Gill also struggled, managing only 93 runs from three Tests while batting at No. 3.

Gambhir’s message was simple: spend more time at the crease. Unlike the previous focus on intent and movement, he emphasised patience and letting the runs come naturally. This shift paid off, with both Gill and Pant adapting well. Gill, traditionally more patient, fitted into this approach, while Pant, though sometimes impulsive, began to value his wicket.

According to The Indian Express, Sitanshu Kotak’s presence helped bring calm to the dressing room. Gambhir and Kotak paid close attention to the batters during practice, emphasising patience whenever urgency crept in.

Jadeja and Rahul, who showed promise in Australia but lacked big scores, benefitted greatly. In England, Rahul weathered the new ball at the top, while Jadeja did the same in the lower middle order. Jadeja’s near-match-saving innings at Lord’s was a standout example of batting with the tail, and with minor adjustments, India could have achieved something they’ve not since 2007.