India’s Historic Triumph at Edgbaston: Gill, Akashdeep Lead the Charge in Landmark Victory

Young Captain, Record Spell, and Tactical Brilliance Help India Level Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Series 1-1

India achieved a monumental milestone in its cricketing journey with a resounding 336-run win over England in the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. This victory marked India’s first-ever Test win at the iconic venue and brought the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series level at 1-1. The match showcased the emerging leadership of Shubman Gill and the extraordinary bowling performance of debutant Akashdeep, whose spell was described as the turning point of the game.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Indian captain Shubman Gill credited Akashdeep’s decisive spell on the fourth day, where he dismissed England’s Ben Duckett and Joe Root, as the catalyst for India’s dominance. “It’s never easy to break through England’s top order,” Gill remarked. “The way Akashdeep bowled, everyone in the dressing room started to believe that this match could be ours.”

Akashdeep’s spellbound figures of 10/187 (4/88 in the first innings and 6/99 in the second) not only dismantled England’s batting line-up but also broke Chetan Sharma’s record (10/188) for the best match figures by an Indian in England. His performance on a flat pitch stood out as one of the finest by an Indian pacer abroad.

Another bold decision that paid off was India’s inclusion of Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav. Despite eyebrows being raised, Gill explained the logic: “Washington gave us batting depth and control on a spinning surface. Our 180-run lead would have been just 70 or 80 if not for that crucial partnership between Washington and me.”

Washington scored a valuable 42 in the first innings and later dismissed England captain Ben Stokes in the second. Gill emphasized that choosing a finger spinner like Sundar provided better control on a fifth-day wicket, especially where movement was more off the rough patches than through the air or off the seam.

The build-up to this match was far from ideal for India. The team trailed 0-1 after losing the Leeds Test from a winning position and went into Edgbaston without Jasprit Bumrah. But Akashdeep, filling in for the Indian pace spearhead, delivered a performance for the ages. He troubled English batters from the outset and was instrumental in bundling them out for 271 on the final day with over a session to spare.

Rain delayed play on Day 5 by 100 minutes, but that didn’t deter India. Akashdeep began India’s victory charge by dismissing overnight batters Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession. Then, just before lunch, Washington Sundar trapped Ben Stokes lbw with a delivery that drifted, dipped, and turned sharply—ending England’s last hopes of resistance.

Post-lunch, Jamie Smith tried to mount a counter-attack with an aggressive fifty. He took on Jadeja and Washington, even smashing two sixes off Akashdeep. But India chipped away steadily. Prasidh Krishna had Chris Woakes caught by Siraj, then almost had Smith lbw—only for a successful review to save the batter.

Akashdeep eventually had the last laugh, deceiving Smith with a change of pace and having him caught in the deep, completing his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests. Jadeja followed up by dismissing Josh Tongue with the help of a stunning one-handed catch by Siraj. The final blow came when Akashdeep had Brydon Carse caught by Gill, sealing a famous victory for India.

India’s comprehensive team performance didn’t go unnoticed. Cricketing legends and fans flooded social media with praise. ICC Chairman Jay Shah called Gill’s twin innings of 269 and 161 “innings of rare quality” and hailed Akashdeep’s 10-wicket haul as a “breakthrough performance.”

Sachin Tendulkar commended India’s aggressive strategy. “India’s approach was to take England out of this game and ensure there would be only one winner. Akashdeep bowled the ball of the series to Joe Root,” said Tendulkar.

Former captain Virat Kohli praised the team’s intent and unity: “Fearless and kept pushing England to the wall. Special mention to Siraj and Akash for their brilliant bowling.”

Yuvraj Singh lauded the team’s grit: “No Bumrah, away from home, backs to the wall—and still the boys found a way! Akashdeep was fearless and unplayable. Shubman showed maturity beyond his years.”

VVS Laxman, BCCI’s Centre of Excellence head, appreciated the team’s resilience. “Exceptional victory. It was amazing to see the team’s fighting spirit. Great start to captaincy for Shubman.”

Gill’s leadership combined flair with tactical acumen. He rotated bowlers smartly, took brave calls at the selection table, and led from the front with twin hundreds. His belief in Washington and Akashdeep reflected trust in his players’ potential.

As India now heads to Lord’s for the third Test starting July 10, Gill acknowledged that the team would reassess their bowling strategy depending on pitch conditions. “The mentality was to have control, and now we will see what kind of wicket Lord’s offers,” said Gill.

India’s playing XI at Edgbaston may be remembered as the one that broke the fortress. With an inexperienced attack, sans Bumrah and without the mystery of Kuldeep Yadav, they outplayed England in all departments.

The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, introduced in 2025 to honor two icons of modern cricket, now stands tied at 1-1. But beyond the scoreboard, the story of India’s win at Edgbaston is about belief, youth, and a captain who isn’t afraid to trust new names on big stages.

Brief Scores: India 587 and 427/6 dec in 83 overs (Shubman Gill 161, Ravindra Jadeja 69 not out; Josh Tongue 2-93, Shoaib Bashir 2-119) beat England 407 and 271 in 68.1 overs (Jamie Smith 88, Ben Stokes 33; Akashdeep 6-99, Washington Sundar 1-28) by 336 runs.