Sourav Ganguly Applauds India's Dominant Victory Over England in Second Test

In a thrilling second Test match, India secured a remarkable 336-run victory over England, leveling the series at 1-1. Former captain Sourav Ganguly praised the young talents, including Shubman Gill and Akash Deep, for their outstanding performances. Gill's historic innings and Deep's ten-wicket haul were pivotal in ending India's winless streak at Edgbaston. With another Test match approaching at Lord's, Ganguly expressed hope for continued success. This victory marks a significant moment for the team, showcasing the potential of its younger players.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 9, 2025, 08:38 IST

Ganguly Praises Young Talent After India's Win

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 9: Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his admiration for the Shubman Gill-led team following their impressive performance against England in the second Test of the five-match series.

The match was marked by a remarkable batting display from skipper Shubman Gill and a ten-wicket haul from pacer Akash Deep, culminating in a decisive 336-run victory for India at Birmingham, thus ending their winless streak.

This victory levels the series at 1-1, and it marks India's first win at Edgbaston Stadium after enduring seven losses and a draw.

In a conversation, Ganguly remarked, “The Indian team played exceptionally well. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were outstanding, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, the fast bowlers, and Ravindra Jadeja. It was a fantastic team effort, and it’s great to see the youngsters stepping up to secure a win.”

He added, “It was a remarkable victory. With another Test match at Lord's just two days away, I hope they can replicate this performance. Best wishes to them; I’m confident they will do well.”

England chose to bowl first, and after an early dismissal of KL Rahul (2), an 80-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal (87 off 107 balls, including 13 fours) and Karun Nair (31 off 50 balls, with five fours) helped stabilize India's innings. Skipper Shubman Gill formed significant partnerships, scoring 269 runs off 387 balls, including 30 fours and three sixes, with notable partnerships of 203 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (89 off 137 balls) and 144 runs with Washington Sundar (42 off 103 balls).

Shoaib Bashir (3/167) was the standout bowler for England, supported by Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue, who each took two wickets.

In England's first innings, India had them struggling at 84/5, but a remarkable 303-run partnership between Harry Brook (158 off 234 balls) and Jamie Smith (184* off 207 balls) turned the tide. However, Siraj (6/70) and Akash Deep (4/88) capitalized on the new ball, taking the last five wickets for just 20 runs, restricting England to 407 runs and gaining a 180-run lead.

India's response featured a quick half-century partnership between Jaiswal (28 off 22 balls) and KL Rahul, who scored 55 off 84 balls. A 110-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Rishabh Pant (65 off 58 balls) and Gill, followed by a monumental 175-run stand with Jadeja, saw Gill score 161 off 162 balls. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 69 off 118 balls. India declared at 427/6, setting England a daunting target of 608 runs.

During the chase, England struggled at 50/3, with Jamie Smith (88 off 99 balls) being the only bright spot as they were bowled out for 271 runs, losing by 336 runs, thanks to Akash Deep's stellar performance (6/99), achieving a ten-wicket haul.