India script inspiring first Test win at Edgbaston

Tuesday, 8 July 2025 05:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Requiring seven wickets to win on the final day, Indian bowlers—led by Akash Deep, who registered his maiden ten-wicket haul—bowled England out for 271 to square the five-match series 1-1. India came into the second Test at Edgbaston with the history of not having won a single Test match at the venue and without having their premium bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, in the playing XI.

On the eve of the match, India skipper Shubman Gill had spoken about focusing on winning without thinking much about the past. He made sure his team walked the talk after he led India to a historic 336-run win, while scoring a record 430 runs in the Test. This victory at Birmingham is also India’s biggest away Test win in terms of runs.

After a brief rain interruption, England started Day 5 needing 536 runs with seven wickets in hand, before Akash Deep’s double strike—dismissing Ollie Pope (24) and Harry Brook (23) within the first half an hour of play—put the hosts on the back foot.

With his team in deep trouble at 83/5, skipper Ben Stokes stitched a 70-run partnership with first-innings centurion Jamie Smith, trying to steady the ship. However, Washington Sundar trapped Stokes in front of the stumps on the stroke of lunch, making it India’s session entirely.

Smith continued from where he left off in the first innings, bringing up another half-century and holding fort for the host’s post-lunch. Prasidh Krishna then sent back Chris Woakes, before Smith took on Deep, hitting him for two consecutive sixes. Deep, however, had the last laugh as he picked up his first-ever five-for in Tests when Smith attempted to hit a third six and holed out to Sundar instead.

India then completed the formalities soon after, when a stunning diving catch by Mohammed Siraj helped Ravindra Jadeja grab his first wicket of the innings, and Deep fittingly claimed the final wicket of Brydon Carse—securing a maiden 10-wicket haul—as India notched up their first win in the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.

With the series poised at 1-1, the teams will lock horns for the all-important third Test at Lord’s from Thursday, 10 July.

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