Home
India scripted history after bulldozing England by 336 runs in the second Test in Birmingham to end their 58-year-long drought for first win at Edgbaston as 1-1 parity has been restored in the five-match series. Since 1967, this was India's first win against England. Out of the eight Test matches played at Edgbaston, India suffered defeat in seven instances. The only time they managed to avoid a loss was in 1986 when the match concluded in a draw.
India break Edgbaston jinx with robust win over England in 2nd Test
Riding on Akash Deep's six-fer India restricted England for 271 after handing them a colossal target of 608. Shubman Gill, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj remained the architects of India's win. Gill first scored double century (269) in the first innings to help India post a massive total of 587. Gill then doubled it up with another century (161) in the second innings as India declared their innings at 427/6 to give England a herculean target to chase which Ben Stokes' brigade failed to achieve. Akash Deep took a total of 10 wickets in the match. Not to forget Mohammed Siraj, who took a sizzling six-fer in the first innings to fold England for 407.
This was India's first win under Gill's captaincy.
This victory also marked India's most significant win in an away Test match. The previous record for India's largest away win was by 317 runs, achieved against the West Indies in North Sound in 2019. Considering all Test matches played by India, the win against England ranks as their fourth-largest ever. For the England side, this defeat represents their second-worst loss in terms of margin against India. Their most significant defeat at the hands of India remains the 434-run loss in Rajkot in 2024.
Under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, the England team has now lost all three Test matches where they faced a target of 500 or more runs in the final innings. Interestingly, two of these three defeats have been inflicted by India.
How did the match pan out?
Akash Deep delivered an exceptional bowling performance, claiming 6 wickets for 99 runs and achieving a remarkable ten-wicket haul in the match. India entered this game without their key bowler Jasprit Bumrah, and also decided not to include Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven. Furthermore, they were trailing 0-1 in the series after suffering a loss in the previous Test at Leeds, a match they seemed poised to win. Stepping in for the unavailable Bumrah, Akash showcased outstanding fast bowling, troubling the English batsmen with the new ball even on a pitch that was considered flat. His efforts culminated in bowling out England for 271 runs on the final day, with a significant amount of playing time still remaining.
Akash's achievement makes him only the second Indian bowler to take ten wickets in a single Test match in England, following in the footsteps of Chetan Sharma, who achieved figures of 10 wickets for 188 runs, coincidentally also in Birmingham, back in 1986. He received valuable support from Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, each of whom contributed with a wicket. For Shubman Gill, who scored impressive innings of 269 and 161 in the match, this victory marked his first as India’s Test captain.
Despite a delay of 100 minutes on the fifth day due to rain, India managed to secure the remaining seven wickets and successfully avenged their previous defeat at Headingley with a memorable victory in Birmingham.
Akash played a pivotal role in setting India on the path to victory by dismissing England's overnight batsmen, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, early in the morning session. Subsequently, Washington Sundar claimed the crucial wicket of England's captain, Ben Stokes, just before the lunch break, positioning the visitors for a commanding win.
On the fourth day of the Test match, Akash Deep had already made his presence felt by dismissing Ben Duckett and Joe Root with an impressive spell of bowling. Continuing his stellar performance on the final day, he provided India with an ideal start in just his second over. He bowled a back-of-a-length delivery that generated extra bounce, striking Ollie Pope on the elbow before deflecting onto the stumps, resulting in his dismissal.
Akash continued to bowl with great accuracy and pace. He then trapped Harry Brook leg-before-wicket with a sharp delivery pitched on a good length. The subsequent review confirmed that the ball would have indeed hit the top of the middle stump, although the on-field umpire's call was in question.
Despite Akash's early success, Steve Smith showed resistance, scoring a rapid three boundaries off his bowling. England's captain, Ben Stokes, also displayed aggressive intent, hitting Mohammed Siraj for four boundaries. Ravindra Jadeja, with his spin bowling, troubled both Smith and Stokes, particularly exploiting Stokes' vulnerability against left-arm spin.
Jadeja bowled his 40th over quickly, in under 100 seconds. This pressure seemed to contribute to Stokes' dismissal, as he was trapped lbw while attempting to defend against Washington Sundar. Stokes reviewed the decision, but the ball's late drift, dip, and turn meant it struck his pad first and was projected to hit the stumps, a crucial blow for England just before the lunch interval.
Smith started the second session positively, scoring three boundaries off Jadeja and Washington collectively, reaching his half-century in 73 balls. He continued his aggressive approach, hitting Washington for two sixes and a four, briefly keeping England's hopes of a draw alive.
However, India maintained their pressure, with Prasidh Krishna inducing an edge from Chris Woakes off a short ball. Siraj, positioned at midwicket, took a straightforward catch to dismiss Woakes. Krishna then appealed for lbw against Jamie Smith, but the review overturned the decision, showing the ball would have gone over the stumps.
Smith continued to fight, flicking Prasidh for a boundary and then pulling Akash for consecutive sixes over backward square leg and mid-wicket. Attempting a third consecutive six, Smith was deceived by a change of pace and was caught in the deep, handing Akash his first-ever five-wicket haul in Test matches.
India's joy continued when Josh Tongue attempted to flick a full delivery from Jadeja, but Siraj at short mid-wicket made a spectacular diving catch to his right, grabbing the ball with one hand. Akash then secured his sixth wicket of the innings, as Brydon Carse sliced a delivery to Shubman Gill at cover, sealing India's historic victory and conquering another overseas fortress.
The third Test match of the series at Lord’s is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
ADVERTISEMENT
