India Secures Historic Victory Over England in Birmingham Test
Team India Triumphs in Birmingham Test
New Delhi, July 7: Sarandeep Singh, a former Indian cricketer and selector, praised Team India for their impressive performance in Birmingham, noting that captain Shubman Gill is currently in a "different zone" since assuming leadership. He commended the team's all-around effort, highlighting contributions from both the batting lineup and the pace attack.
India marked a significant milestone by ending their winless streak in Birmingham with a commanding 336-run victory over England in the second Test, concluding on the final day. Gill's historic batting display and Akash Deep's remarkable ten-wicket haul were standout moments in this collective team effort.
After the match, Sarandeep expressed his excitement, stating, "This is a phenomenal win. England has never lost a match in Birmingham before. Today marks the beginning of a new era. It's impressive that we achieved this victory without Bumrah, and even with the absence of Kohli and Rohit, our batters excelled."
He further noted, "Shubman has been exceptional since taking over as captain, leading the team to a substantial lead. Our top four batters—Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant—all scored centuries."
Sarandeep also praised the bowling performance, particularly highlighting how Akash Deep complemented Mohammed Siraj effectively. Akash Deep's ten-wicket haul and Siraj's seven wickets, including six in the first innings, were crucial to the team's success.
In the match, England chose to field first. After an early dismissal of KL Rahul (2), a partnership of 80 runs between Yashasvi Jaiswal (87 off 107 balls) and Karun Nair (31 off 50 balls) helped stabilize India's innings. Captain Shubman Gill formed significant partnerships, scoring 269 runs off 387 balls, including 30 fours and three sixes, leading India to a total of 587.
Shoaib Bashir (3/167) was the standout bowler for England, with Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue each taking two wickets.
In England's first innings, they struggled 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) managed to take the last five wickets for just 20 runs, restricting England to 407 runs and giving India 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 between Rishabh Pant (65 off 58 balls) and Gill, followed by a 175-run stand with Jadeja (161 off 162 balls), propelled India to declare at 427/6, setting England a daunting target of 608 runs.
During England's chase, they faltered 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 outstanding bowling performance (6/99).
Shubman Gill was awarded the 'Player of the Match' as India leveled the series 1-1.