In the second Test of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar series, India defeated England by a massive 336 runs at Edgbaston in Birmingham, leveling the series 1-1.
India were put in to bat after England decided to bowl on a flat, batter-friendly wicket, which backfired horribly. Skipper Shubman Gill delivered a career-defining performance of 269, with a combination of flair and patience. It was the second-highest Test score by an Indian skipper overseas, after only Virat Kohli‘s 254*. He was well assisted by Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) and Ravindra Jadeja (89), as India scored 587 in more over 150 overs. Gill’s knock included 34 boundaries and four sixes, which helped set the tone for full dominance.
England’s response began in chaos, falling to 84/5 before lunch on Day 3. Akash Deep, in only his second Test, was superb with the new ball, producing swing, seam, and perfect control. He grabbed 4/88, ripping through the top order, including the coveted wicket of Joe Root, who was defeated with a delivery that seamed in sharply, later praised by Sachin Tendulkar as the “ball of the series.” Jamie Smith, on the other hand, saved England from complete collapse with a brilliant counterattacking 108, his second Test century. Mohammed Siraj, India’s spearhead, cleaned out the lower order with 6/71, his third five-wicket haul in Tests. Despite their resurgence, England were behind by 180 runs.
India batted aggressively in their second innings to allow enough time to bowl England out. Gill continued his golden form, hitting 161 off 167 balls to reach his second century of the match. His match total of 430 runs is presently the second-highest in Test history, after only Graham Gooch’s 456 in 1990. He also became the first Indian to get two 150-plus scores in a single Test. India declared after reaching 427/6, giving England a huge target of 608 runs, the biggest ever set at Edgbaston.
With a mountain to climb, England’s second innings matched the first. They lost wickets early to Akash Deep’s unrelenting lines, falling to 83/5 at lunch on Day 5. Deep was on an assignment; he eliminated Root with a carbon-copy delivery and moved through the middle order with surgical accuracy. He concluded with 6/99, taking his match score to 10/187, his first 10-wicket haul in Tests, and only the third Indian bowler to do so in England, behind Kapil Dev and Ishant Sharma.
Jamie Smith battled back with a brave 88, but the rest of the side collapsed easily. England were bowled out for 271, giving India a thumping 336-run victor, the biggest win by runs on English soil.
India’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah provided an opportunity for Akash Deep to shine, and he took full advantage of it. India’s bowling strategies were carried out with clinical precision, demonstrating discipline and ferocity in unison. However, Brendon McCullum accepted that England’s choice to bowl first “completely backfired.” Aside from Jamie Smith’s efforts, their batting lacked tenacity, and worries about the top order’s technique and form remain.
With the series now tied at 1-1, both teams attempt to recuperate ahead of the third Test at Lord’s, which begins July 10. India may bring back Bumrah for more firepower, while England is thought to explore including Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson.
Scorecard:
India: 587/10, Overs 151, Shubman Gill 269, Shoaib Bashir 3/167
England: 407/10, Overs 89.3, Jamie Smith 184*, Mohammed Siraj 6/70
India: 427/6d, Overs 83, Shubman Gill 161, Josh Tongue 2/93
England: 271/10, Overs 68.1, Jamie Smith 88, Akash Deep 6/99
