ENG vs IND: The second Test match between England and India at Edgbaston filled Indian cricket fans with pride. After England won the first Test by five wickets in Leeds, everyone was wondering how Team India would make a comeback. But this young team, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, surprised everyone.
India defeated England by 336 runs at Edgbaston in the second test. This victory is considered to be India's biggest victory abroad. In this historic match, Captain Gill's bat did the talking, while Akash Deep and Mohammad Siraj did wonders with the ball. Siraj scalped a five-wicket haul in the first innings, and Akash Deep achieved his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket in the second innings.
England captain Ben Stokes admitted to some bitter things after the defeat. He clearly said that his team lost the lead on many important occasions. According to Stokes, there was a chance to stop India at 200/5 in the first innings, but they could not capitalize on it. He admitted that when a team loses five wickets for 200, the opposing team should strengthen its hold, but England failed to do so. After this, when his own team got reduced to 80/5, it became difficult to come back.
The English captain also said that the nature of the pitch went against them. He changed the strategies but it did not benefit. According to him, Shubman played such an innings that it overshadowed the England bowlers. Stokes admitted that the team had opportunities, but they did not seize those moments seriously. The mistake on such occasions turned into a big defeat. He said that the players tried, but India had taken the lead in every department. The lesson from this defeat for England is that it is important to show mental strength in moments of pressure.
Stokes said: "Tough one. Two moments. Having them at 200/5 and not being able to burst them open. And then being 80/5. It was going to be tough to scrape it back from there. As I just said, having a team 200/5, you’re in a commanding position. But as it got deeper and deeper, the wicket didn’t expect the way we played. It probably suited India more. We tried everything, changed plans, but when a team is on top of you, hard to wrestle it back. Shubman had an unbelievable game with the bat. Always a difficult position to find yourselves batting at the end of the day.”
This victory showed that Shubman Gill has the ability to lead, and Indian players are also trusting him. Such a big victory in England is not easy. Ben Stokes himself counted his weaknesses, which is a good sign for England. There was coordination in India's batting and bowling. Such a victory boosts the morale of the young Indian Test team. Team India will play with more confidence in the coming matches. England will now have to change their thinking, or else the visiting team will defeat them again and again at home.
