Test cricket between India and England has always been an intense and storied rivalry, blending class, aggression, and history. But in today’s digital age, where every moment is replayed, reinterpreted, and reshared, some of the most iconic instances from these clashes have gone beyond mere cricketing folklore; they’ve exploded into full-blown internet memes.
From unexpected blunders to glorious comebacks, fans today don’t just discuss cricket, they remix it, adding captions, editing videos, and turning raw emotion into humour. The rise of social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit has ensured that any viral moment from an India vs England Test match has the potential to become immortal in meme form. In this article, we dive deep into the Top 5 India vs England Test Moments That Became Internet Memes, capturing how cricket’s purest format collided with the internet’s funniest one.
5. Bumrah vs Buttler Verbal Duel at Chennai (2021)
During the second Test of the 2021 India vs England series in Chennai, tensions escalated between two fierce competitors, Jasprit Bumrah and Jos Buttler. What started as a standard appeal escalated into an exchange of words, with Bumrah visibly animated and Buttler offering sharp retorts. While the umpires calmed things down quickly, the internet did exactly the opposite, igniting a meme fest based on this heated spat.
Cameras caught Bumrah gesturing animatedly while Buttler muttered something under his breath. Within hours, meme creators turned Bumrah into a “strict teacher” and Buttler into a “bored backbencher.” The scene was remixed with Bollywood dialogues, dubbed with Tamil one-liners, and even turned into animated reels.
Why it became an internet meme: The body language, intense expressions, and history between the players provided fans with all the ingredients for an epic internet meme.
4. Virat Kohli’s “Mic Drop” Send-off to Joe Root (2018)
In the 1st Test of the 2018 series in Edgbaston, after running out Joe Root with a direct hit, Virat Kohli mimicked Root’s previous “mic drop” celebration from an ODI series by literally dropping an imaginary mic. The crowd, commentators, and the internet lost it.
That moment wasn’t just about the dismissal; it symbolised rivalry, revenge, and raw emotion. Within minutes, meme pages were flooded with slow-motion edits, Marvel references, and rap battle themes.
Why it became an internet meme: Kohli’s dramatic flair, timing, and the reference to Root’s past made it a goldmine for internet memes.
Popular Meme Captions:
- “Virat Kohli drops mics, not catches.”
- “When you finally deliver that comeback you rehearsed in the shower.”
3. Ishant Sharma’s “Zoned Out” Face at Lord’s (2014)
During the iconic 2014 Test at Lord’s, Ishant Sharma produced a spell for the ages, bouncing out England with relentless short-pitched bowling. But what went viral wasn’t just his performance; it was a candid image of Ishant looking completely zoned out during a field change.
Memers had a field day, turning his blank stare into the face of Monday blues, post-breakup despair, or realising you left the gas on at home.
Why it became an internet meme: The perfect combination of exhaustion, blankness, and intensity in his face created a relatable template for meme-makers.
Popular Meme Captions:
- “That moment you realise adulthood is a scam.”
- “When you get 7 wickets but still have to attend a family function.”
2. Joe Root’s Bat Balancing Trick at Chepauk (2021)
In a rare and hilarious moment during the Chennai Test in 2021, England captain Joe Root was seen balancing his bat on the crease like a statue. The camera panned to it multiple times as the bat stood upright without falling, mesmerising viewers and sparking waves of internet memes.
The internet quickly turned Root into a “cricketing monk,” with memes calling it the “Zen moment of the Test series” or the bat being “rooted to the ground like his technique.”
Why it became an internet meme: It was an unexpected and oddly satisfying moment of balance in the middle of a tense Test—perfect fuel for meme creators.
Popular Meme Captions:
- “Joe Root’s bat is more balanced than my life.”
- “Physics left the group.”
1. Rishabh Pant’s “No-Look” Six at Ahmedabad (2021)
In the 3rd Test of the 2021 series in Ahmedabad, Rishabh Pant left fans and experts speechless not just with his fearless strokeplay, but with an audacious one-handed no-look six off James Anderson. The shot wasn’t just jaw-dropping; it was tailor-made for meme-makers.
Soon, social media was ablaze with comparisons to basketball’s Steph Curry, anime characters charging energy balls, and even superheroes. The pose, the timing, and the context made this a classic.
Why it became an internet meme: The sheer audacity of the shot against a veteran bowler, combined with Pant’s flair, turned it into one of the most viral internet memes in Test cricket history.
Popular Meme Captions:
- “Confidence Level: Rishabh Pant hitting no-look sixes to Anderson.”
- “Rishabh Pant doesn’t play cricket. He plays with your emotions.”
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