How 16th-Century Shiva Stuti lifted India’s spirits in the Oval Test

India-England played a 2-2 draw in the five-match Test series (BCCI Photo)

During their thrilling series-leveling victory against England at The Oval, the Indian cricket team found strength in an ancient devotional chant in a time when analytics, tactics, and high-performance science rule the day. Throughout the five days of the series finale, the sound of the Shri Shiva Rudrashtakam Stuti reverberated in the Indian dressing room.

Pressure was at its highest with India down 1-2 and the five-match series on the line. The series could only be drawn with a win. However, the atmosphere in the dressing room soured after the top order collapsed early in the first innings, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal returning to the pavilion at just 38 for 2.

At that point, Raghavendra, also known as Raghu, the team's seasoned throwdown specialist, made the decision to adopt a different strategy. He softly played the Shri Shiva Rudrashtakam on the dressing room speaker system, according to a Dainik Jagran report. A regular ritual quickly developed from what began as a brief period of serenity amid stress.

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The Rudrashtakam served as the background music in India's inner sanctuary from day one to five. The hymn's passion and pace brought surprising solace to coaches, players, and support personnel.

“It wasn’t something we planned,” said one touring squad member. “But once it started, it became part of our environment. It brought this strange mix of peace and energy.” Another player shared: “We often play music before or after sessions. It could be something upbeat or devotional, even the Hanuman Chalisa during practice. But five straight days of Rudrashtakam in a high-stakes Test was something new. I won’t say we won just because of it, but there was definitely an energy boost.”

The 16th-century Sanskrit hymn, the Shri Shiva Rudrashtakam, was written by Tulsidas and praises Lord Shiva. It is frequently chanted to increase concentration, spiritual fortitude, and defense against evil forces. There is a common notion that big impediments and foes can be eliminated by reciting the Rudrashtakam with dedication for seven days in a row. According to legend, Lord Rama said this verse at Rameswaram prior to his decisive conflict with Ravana in order to obtain Shiva's blessings for victory.

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The Indian team was moved by this fusion of faith and tradition, and many of them kept listening to the hymn even after the game was over.

India had already gone through a series of ups and downs before the Oval Test. After suffering a five-wicket defeat in the opening Test match at Leeds, they recovered to win by a commanding 336 runs at Birmingham. After a close 22-run victory at Lord's, England regained control, and the fourth Test in Manchester finished in a draw.

The Oval in London hosted the fifth Test, which turned into a crucial match. India made a spectacular recovery after a dismal start. They leveled the series 2-2 with an exciting climax, defeating England by six runs after steady performances throughout the five days.

According to the report, some players now play it while going about their daily lives or in their cars. “Raghu made a great call playing it in the dressing room,” a team member said. “It not only helped lift spirits but also created a kind of invisible bond in the group. It reminded us to stay grounded and focused.”