India created history with a 336-run win over England in the second Test at Birmingham, securing not only their first-ever victory at Edgbaston but also their biggest Test win away from home in terms of runs.
Skipper Shubman Gill, along with pacers Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, spearheaded a collective team effort as India levelled the series, overcoming the Birmingham blues with a win that will be remembered for ages.
This is India’s biggest away win in Tests, surpassing their 318-run victory over the West Indies at North Sound in 2016, as they defended a total of 419. Jasprit Bumrah picked up a memorable five-wicket haul in the match, while Ajinkya Rahane was named Player of the Match for his knocks of 81 and 102.
Gill, besides breaking an endless list of records with the bat, also made history as captain. At 25 years and 301 days old, he became the youngest Indian captain to win a Test overseas, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar, who was 26 years and 202 days old when he led India to victory against New Zealand in Auckland in 1976.
Coming to the match, England once again opted to field first. After removing KL Rahul (2) early, an 80-run stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal (87 off 107 balls, 13 fours) and Karun Nair (31 off 50 balls, five fours) helped India recover. Skipper Gill stitched valuable partnerships — 203 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (89 off 137 balls, 10 fours and a six) and a 144-run stand with Washington Sundar (42 off 103 balls, three fours and a six) — steering India to a mammoth 587. Gill scored a marathon 269 off 387 balls, hitting 30 fours and three sixes.
Shoaib Bashir (3/167) was England’s most successful bowler, while Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue claimed two wickets each.
In England’s first innings, India reduced them to 84/5. However, a 303-run stand between Harry Brook (158 off 234 balls, 17 fours and a six) and wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith (184* off 207 balls, 21 fours and four sixes) kept England alive. But Siraj (6/70) and Akash Deep (4/88) made the new ball count, bundling out the last five wickets for just 20 runs, dismissing England for 407 and giving India a 180-run lead.
In reply, India’s batters piled on the pressure. Jaiswal (28 off 22 balls, six fours) and Rahul (55 off 84 balls, 10 fours) set the tone with a brisk half-century stand. A 110-run fourth-wicket stand between Rishabh Pant (65 off 58 balls, eight fours and three sixes) and Gill accelerated the charge, before Gill forged another epic 175-run stand with Jadeja. Gill smashed 161 off 162 balls, with 13 fours and eight sixes, while Jadeja remained unbeaten on 69* off 118 balls (five fours and a six). India declared at 427/6, setting England an improbable target of 608.
In the run chase, England were quickly reduced to 50/3. Jamie Smith (88 off 99 balls, nine fours and four sixes) offered the only resistance before England were bundled out for 271, losing by 336 runs. Akash Deep’s brilliant spell of 6/99 gave him a ten-wicket haul for the match.
Gill was named Player of the Match as India levelled the series 1-1.