India level series with first win at Edgbaston

India thrash England by 336 runs, level series 1-1

Gill’s record-breaking double century and 150, paired with Akash Deep and Siraj’s clinical bowling, seal India’s emphatic win

Shubman Gill’s majestic double century and 161 in the second innings, along with stellar bowling from Mohammad Siraj and Akash Deep, powered India to a dominant 336-run win over England in the second match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Brighton Carse gave India multiple chances with some reckless shots—some evading fielders, others dropped. But when he mistimed one off Akash Deep, Shubman Gill at cover made no mistake. Fittingly, the final catch landed in the hands of Gill—who had an outstanding game both as captain and batter.

After scoring 269 in the first innings, Gill followed up with a breathtaking 161, leading India with composure. The match-winning catch off Akash’s bowling was poetic justice. The 28-year-old pacer was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 6 wickets in the second innings after taking 4 in the first—finishing with match figures of 10 for 187.

England were bowled out for 271 on the final day at Edgbaston, chasing a mammoth 608. This marked India’s first-ever Test win at the venue in nine attempts.

It was also India’s biggest win over England by runs, and their largest away victory in Test history. Only three Test wins by India have come by bigger margins overall.

This resounding win, built on complete dominance with bat and ball, helped India draw level in the five-match series.

Siraj was destructive in the first innings with 6 wickets. In the second, Akash Deep stepped up, claiming 6 for 99, including the wickets of Pope and Brook early on the final day.

Akash also became only the second Indian bowler to take 10 wickets in a Test in England—after Chetan Sharma’s 10 for 188 at Edgbaston in 1986.

Despite Akash’s brilliance, it was Shubman Gill who earned Player of the Match, scoring a combined 430 runs across two innings—the most ever by an Indian in a single Test.

India had already taken control the previous day, reducing England to 72 for 3. Rain delayed the start on Day 5 by an hour and 40 minutes, but Akash wasted no time.

He struck twice in the opening spell—first removing Ollie Pope for 24 with a delivery that jagged in and clipped his elbow before crashing into the stumps. Then came Harry Brook’s dismissal—trapped lbw by an incoming delivery that Brook unsuccessfully reviewed.

At 83 for 5, England were staring at a heavy defeat. The last time they lost five wickets before reaching 100 in both innings of a Test was back in 2009.

Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith tried to resist. But just before lunch, Washington Sundar trapped Stokes lbw with a full-length ball that struck his front pad. The England captain fell for 33 off 73 balls, breaking a 70-run sixth-wicket stand.

From there, it was Jamie Smith’s lone battle. He reached his fifty off 73 balls and later attacked Sundar with two sixes and a four in one over. But Chris Woakes offered no real support and perished to a loose shot off Prasidh Krishna.

Smith survived an lbw call through a successful review, but his charge didn’t last long. He hit Akash for back-to-back sixes, but the bowler adjusted his pace cleverly—Smith mistimed a pull and was caught at deep square leg. That gave Akash his fifth wicket.

Smith, who had scored an unbeaten 184 in the first innings, fell for 88 (9 fours, 4 sixes), finishing with 272 runs in the match—only Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower has scored more as a wicketkeeper in a single Test.

India cleaned up the tail shortly after—Jadeja dismissed Josh Tongue, and despite a few wild swings from Carse, England’s resistance ended when Gill took the final catch.

India’s most dominant win over England ended with their two best players—Gill and Akash— at the center.

The third Test begins at Lord’s on Thursday, after a four-day break.