Akash Deep’s ten-fer seals statement victory for India
Birmingham, July 6: Birmingham, July 7:After leaving out Jasprit Bumrah, losing the toss, and enduring a frustrating rain delay on the final morning, India still delivered a statement performance to beat England by a massive 336 runs in the second Test at Edgbaston.
In doing so, they not only levelled the five-match series 1-1 but also registered their first-ever Test victory at this iconic venue.
Fittingly, it was Akash Deep, the man who stepped in for Bumrah, who sealed the triumph with a sensational spell of seam bowling.
The 27-year-old pacer picked up his maiden five-wicket haul, finishing with 6 for 99 and 10 wickets in the match, becoming only the second Indian after Chetan Sharma (1986) to dominate English conditions with such precision.
India’s commanding win was built on all-round brilliance. Batting first, they piled up a mountain of runs, backed it up with incisive bowling, and showed incredible discipline in the field.
On the final day, despite England’s hopes of salvaging a draw, the visitors dismantled the hosts’ resistance with clinical precision.
England, chasing an improbable target of 608, were bowled out for 271 in 68.1 overs, with Jamie Smith offering the only notable resistance—adding 88 runs to his first-innings 184* in a valiant but ultimately futile effort.
After a 90-minute rain delay reduced the day’s play to 80 overs, India struck early. Akash Deep, breathing fire from the get-go, had Ollie Pope dragging on and then pinned Harry Brook with a ball that jagged back viciously.
He returned to dismiss Ben Stokes right before lunch, ending a gritty 115-ball stand with Smith. England, for the first time under the Stokes-McCullum leadership, abandoned their attacking “Bazball” philosophy in favour of survival, but even that strategy couldn’t shield them from India’s relentless pressure. Washington Sundar chipped in with the big wicket of Stokes, exposing England’s fragile middle order. Deep, who had been omitted for the opening Test, seized the moment, finishing with match figures of 10 for 157, making an unmissable case for continued selection.
Mohammed Siraj delivered a moment of magic with a diving one-handed catch to dismiss Josh Tongue, while skipper Shubman Gill fittingly pouched the final catch—adding to his staggering 430 runs across both innings in a dream match for the new captain.
England’s collapse was completed when Brydon Carse top-edged a wild heave, sparking celebrations in a sea of blue at Edgbaston.
India’s win not only exorcised the demons of their defeat at Headingley but also marked a historic milestone—their first win at this venue in nine attempts. With Jasprit Bumrah likely to return for the third Test at Lord’s and the momentum firmly in their favour, the visitors now look a far more complete and confident unit.
Meanwhile, England have been handed a stark reality check. Their bowlers looked worn, their batters tentative, and their approach, for once, uncertain. With a tight turnaround and concerns around form and fitness, the Lord’s Test now looms large for the hosts.
India’s emphatic triumph at Edgbaston serves as a powerful reminder of the team’s adaptability, resilience, and hunger for success on foreign soil. Facing questions about their combination and approach after the Leeds defeat, the team answered with authority—dominating across all five days and never letting the pressure slip. With the series now level and the stage shifting to Lord’s, the remainder of this contest between two proud cricketing nations promises to be riveting. (Agencies)
SCOREBOARD
India 1st Innings: 587
England 1st Innings: 407
India 2nd innings: 427/6 decl.
England 2nd innings:
Ben Duckett b Akash Deep 25
Zak Crawley c sub (Sudharsan) b Siraj 0 Ollie Pope b Akash Deep 24
Joe Root b Akash Deep 6
Harry Brook lbw b Akash Deep 23
Ben Stokes lbw b Washington Sundar 33
Jamie Smith c Washington Sundar b Akash Deep 88 Chris Woakes c Siraj b Prasidh7
Brydon Carse c Shubman Gill b Akash Deep 38 Josh Tonguec Siraj b Ravindra Jadeja 2
Shoaib Bashir not out12
Extras: (B-4, LB-4, W-2, NB-3) 13
Total: (all out in 68.1 overs) 273. (PTI)