India Secures Historic Test Victory at Edgbaston with Akash Deep's Stellar Performance
India Triumphs Over England in a Historic Test Match
Birmingham: Fast bowler Akash Deep delivered an impressive performance, taking 6 wickets for 99 runs, leading India to a remarkable 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston. This win marks India's first Test victory at this venue and levels the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at 1-1.
Entering the match without star bowler Jasprit Bumrah and trailing 0-1 after a disappointing loss at Leeds, India relied on Akash, who stepped in for Bumrah. He showcased exceptional fast bowling skills, dismantling England's batting lineup for 271 runs on the final day, with ample time remaining.
Akash's achievement makes him only the second Indian bowler to claim a ten-wicket haul in a Test match in England, following Chetan Sharma's feat in 1986. He received support from Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, each contributing with a wicket. Shubman Gill, who scored 269 and 161 runs, celebrated his first victory as India's Test captain.
Despite a rain delay of 100 minutes on the fifth day, India managed to secure the remaining seven wickets, overcoming the disappointment of their previous match at Headingley.
Akash initiated India's victory by dismissing overnight batsmen Ollie Pope and Harry Brook early in the morning session. Washington's wicket of England captain Ben Stokes just before lunch set the stage for a significant win.
On Saturday, Akash had already made an impact by taking out Ben Duckett and Joe Root. He continued his excellent form on the final day, striking early with a delivery that deflected off Pope's elbow onto the stumps.
He then trapped Brook lbw with a sharply jagging delivery, which the review confirmed would have hit the stumps.
Steve Smith, who scored an unbeaten 184 in the first innings, managed to hit three quick boundaries off Akash, while Stokes displayed aggressive batting against Mohammed Siraj. Jadeja's spin troubled both Smith and Stokes, who historically struggles against left-arm spinners.
After Jadeja's impressive over, Stokes was trapped lbw by Washington's delivery, which showed signs of drift and turn, leaving England in a precarious position.
Smith began the second session strongly, reaching his fifty off 73 balls, but India continued to take wickets. Prasidh Krishna claimed a wicket by forcing Chris Woakes to edge a short ball to Siraj.
Smith's aggressive batting included two sixes off Washington, but he ultimately fell to Akash's clever change of pace, marking Akash's first five-wicket haul in Tests.
India's joy continued as Siraj made a stunning one-handed catch off a delivery from Jadeja, and Akash secured his sixth wicket, leading India to a historic win in challenging overseas conditions.
Brief Scores: India 587 and 427/6 declared in 83 overs (Shubman Gill 161, Ravindra Jadeja 69 not out; Josh Tongue 2-93, Shoaib Bashir 2-119) defeated England 407 and 271 in 68.1 overs (Jamie Smith 88, Ben Stokes 33; Akash Deep 6-99, Washington Sundar 1-28) by 336 runs.