England: Akash Deep delivered the performance of his career, claiming 10 wickets in the match to steer India to a resounding 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston on Sunday, leveling the five-match series in emphatic style. This win was historic for India, marking their first Test triumph at Edgbaston after seven losses and a draw.
Playing only his eighth Test, the 28-year-old Deep seized the spotlight in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, finishing with match figures of 10-147. His decisive 6-99 in the second innings ensured England, chasing an improbable 608, were bowled out for 271 on the final day. Jamie Smith stood out for the hosts with a valiant 88, adding to his unbeaten 184 in the first innings, but lacked substantial support.
India’s victory was also a personal milestone for skipper Shubman Gill. The 25-year-old became the first batter in Test history to score both a double century and a 150 in the same match, following up his majestic 269 in the first innings with a blistering 161 off just 162 balls. Gill now has three centuries in his first two Tests as captain, having struck 147 in India’s opening defeat at Headingley.
Resuming on 72-3 after rain delayed play by over 90 minutes, England faced a daunting task, with history offering little encouragement—no team has ever chased more than 418 to win in the fourth innings. Early hopes were dashed when Ollie Pope chopped a rising delivery from Deep onto his stumps without adding to his overnight 24. Captain Ben Stokes, on a king pair after his first-ball duck in the first innings, survived a nervy start but fell for 33 before lunch to Washington Sundar.
Harry Brook, who partnered Smith for a 300-plus stand in the first innings, was trapped lbw by Deep for 23, his unsuccessful review only fueling the cheers of Indian fans. After lunch, Smith tried to counterattack, hammering two towering sixes off Sundar and later two more off Deep to reach 88. However, his attempt at a third successive six ended in Sundar’s hands at deep square leg.
From 226-8, England’s resistance crumbled. Josh Tongue fell to a sharp catch by Mohammed Siraj, and Brydon Carse’s miscue handed Deep his sixth wicket of the innings, with Gill taking the final catch at cover. This emphatic win also keeps alive India’s hopes of securing just their fourth Test series victory on English soil.
