India's Historic Comeback in Birmingham Test: A Record-Breaking Performance

India's Remarkable Resurgence in the Second Test

Birmingham [UK], July 3: Following a disappointing performance from the lower-order batsmen in the first Test at Leeds, Team India made a stunning recovery in Birmingham, setting a record for the most runs scored in an innings after losing the fifth wicket in a Test match.

During the second Test, India found themselves in a precarious position at 211/5 on the first day, with quick dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy. However, captain Shubman Gill, who achieved a remarkable double century, stepped up to solidify his status as "India's best batter on tour," ensuring that the lower-order batsmen made significant contributions. He formed a double-century partnership with Ravindra Jadeja and a century partnership with Washington Sundar.

After the fall of the fifth wicket, Gill and Jadeja put together a 203-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with Jadeja scoring a well-crafted 89 off 137 balls, including 10 fours and a six. Sundar then supported Gill, who continued his record-setting performance, scoring 42 off 103 balls, with three fours and a six, contributing to a 144-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Lower-order batsmen Akash Deep (6), Mohammed Siraj (8), and Prasidh Krishna (5) played their parts in helping India amass 376 runs after the fifth wicket fell, marking the highest such total for the team in a Test innings. Ultimately, India was all out for 587 runs, their fourth-highest total on English soil, following their record of 664 runs at The Oval in August 2007, which ended in a draw.

This performance surpassed their previous record of 370 runs added after the fifth wicket, achieved against the West Indies in Kolkata in 2013. In that match, after being reduced to 83/5, debutant Rohit Sharma (177 runs off 301 balls, with 23 fours and a six), along with skipper MS Dhoni (42) and Ravichandran Ashwin (124 runs off 210 balls, with 11 fours), mounted a remarkable lower-order recovery, leading India to a total of 453 all out. This match also marked the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's final international appearance.