Shubman Gill’s Masterclass and Akash Deep’s Ten-Wicket Haul Seal Dominant Win for India

After the Day 4 of the 2nd Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on July 5, 2025, India were in the driver’s seat, with England at 72/3 chasing a massive 608 to win. Ollie Pope (24) and Harry Brook (15) were at the crease, needing a miracle 536 runs on the final day with seven wickets left. Rain was looming, and India, led by Shubman Gill, was hungry for a series-levelling win after their loss in the first Test at Headingley. What unfolded on July 6 was a thrilling day of cricket, with rain delays, fiery bowling, gritty batting, and a historic victory for India.

Akash Deep’s Magic Spell

The day started with a damp squib. Heavy rain bucketed down in Birmingham, covering the square and delaying play by an hour and 40 minutes. The revised session times were set for 5:10 PM IST to 11:30 PM IST, giving India about 80 overs to bowl England out. Fans were on edge, wondering if the weather would rob India of their chance. When play finally began, the skies cleared, and India’s bowlers, led by Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, came out swinging.

England resumed with Pope and Brook, hoping to dig in or, at the very least, survive for a draw. Akash Deep, who already grabbed two wickets on Day 4, was on fire from the City End. In the 19th over, he struck a massive blow, getting Pope (24 off 50 balls) to play onto his stumps with a perfect-length ball that angled in. Pope, who looked solid, was gutted, and England were 80/4. The crowd sensed India tightening the screws. Brook, known for his aggressive style, tried to counterattack, but Akash wasn’t done.

In the 21st over, he trapped Brook lbw for 23 off 31 balls with a delivery that nipped back. Brook reviewed, but it was the umpire’s call, and he trudged off, leaving England 83/5. India were buzzing, and the target of 608 felt like a distant dream for England. Ben Stokes, England’s captain, walked in under pressure, desperate to avoid a king pair after his first-ball duck in the first innings. He was joined by Jamie Smith, England’s keeper-batter who smashed an unbeaten 184 in the first innings.

The pair steadied the ship, with Stokes playing cautiously and Smith showing flashes of his attacking game. They added 70 runs for the sixth wicket, taking England to 153/5 by lunch. Smith, in particular, looked comfortable, picking off singles and boundaries, while Stokes battled hard against India’s relentless attack. But just as England seemed to find a rhythm, Washington Sundar struck on the stroke of lunch in the 40th over. He trapped Stokes lbw for 33 off 73 balls with a full ball that pinned him in front. Stokes reviewed, but the decision stood, and England were 153/6, still needing 455 runs. India needed just four wickets, and the session ended with the visitors firmly in control.

Post-lunch, Smith took the fight to India. He reached his fifty off 73 balls, a gritty knock compared to his free-flowing first innings. He smashed two sixes and a four off Sundar in the 49th over, pushing England past 190. Chris Woakes, at the other end, hung in there, but India’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Prasidh Krishna, being wicketless so far, finally got his moment in the 52nd over, getting Woakes (7 off 32 balls) to edge to Siraj at slip. England were 199/7, and the tail was exposed. Smith, though, wasn’t giving up. He kept finding boundaries, including a cracking drive off Siraj and took England past 200.

Akash Deep returned and nearly got Smith lbw in the 55th over, but a review showed the ball was going over. Drinks came with England at 211/7, Smith on 76, and Brydon Carse new at the crease. Smith and Carse put up a stubborn fight, frustrating India with a 27-run stand. Smith was in top form, hammering nine fours and four sixes in his 88 off 99 balls. But Akash Deep, the star of the day, wasn’t done. In the 55th over, he got Smith to edge to Sundar at slip, ending his resistance. England were 226/8, and Akash had his maiden Test five-for, finishing with 5/92 at that point.

The Edgbaston crowd gave Smith a standing ovation as he walked off, knowing he fought hard. Carse, joined by Josh Tongue, kept India waiting. Carse played some bold shots, including a six off Jadeja, and took England past 250. Jadeja, being quiet with the ball, finally struck in the 63rd over, getting Tongue (2 off 29 balls) caught by a diving Siraj at slip. Siraj’s athleticism was unreal, and India were one wicket away from victory, with England at 246/9, needing 362 runs.

Shoaib Bashir, England’s last man, came in and showed some fight, smacking a boundary and a six off Jadeja to bring up England’s 250. Carse, too, was in the mood, driving Siraj for a boundary through cover. But Akash Deep, the hero all day, sealed the deal in the 68th over. He got Carse (38 off 48 balls) to edge to Gill at slip, finishing with 6/99 and a 10-wicket match haul. England were bowled out for 271, handing India a thumping 336-run victory. It was India’s first-ever Test win at Edgbaston in nine attempts, a historic moment for Gill and his team, especially without their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested.

Akash Deep was the standout, earning praise for his heart and skill. His 6/99 in the second innings and 4/88 in the first gave him a match haul of 10 wickets, a dream performance on debut. Mohammed Siraj backed him up with 1/57, while Sundar and Jadeja chipped in with crucial wickets. Gill, named Player of the Match for his 269 and 161, was over the moon, confirming Bumrah’s return for the third Test at Lord’s. England’s resistance came mainly from Smith and Brook, but their top order crumbled under India’s pace attack. The rain, which had threatened to spoil India’s party, cleared just in time, and the revised session times allowed enough overs for a result.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

To get the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day here, Akash Deep’s peach of a ball to dismiss Harry Brook on Day 5 at Edgbaston, July 6, 2025, was pure gold! England were chasing 608, at 80/4, with Brook on 23 off 31 balls, looking to dig in. In the 21.3rd over, Akash bowled a stunner that stayed low, jagging in off the fifth-day pitch. It caught Brook in a complete mess, hitting his back knee plumb in front of the stumps.

The umpire raised the finger, and though Brook reviewed, it was super hopeful, the umpire’s call on the top of the middle stump confirmed his exit. England slumped to 83/5, and India were buzzing! Akash’s magic ball, full of seam and swing, was too good, breaking England’s hopes just 25 minutes into the day. His 6/99 in the innings showed how well he bowled, exploiting the pitch perfectly. Shubman Gill and the Indian team celebrated wildly, knowing they had taken out one of England’s overnight batsmen.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

The man who changed things for India with the ball, Akash Deep, earned TCNI’s Hero of the Day with a cracking spell on Day 5 at Edgbaston, July 6, 2025. His 6/99 in 21.1 overs tore through England’s second innings as they chased 608, bowling them out for 271. Akash was on fire, starting with Ben Duckett (25 off 15) in the 4th over, clean bowled with a beauty. He then got Joe Root (6 off 16) and Ollie Pope (24 off 50) bowled, and trapped Harry Brook (23 off 31) lbw in the 21st over with a low, skidding ball.

His fifth wicket was Jamie Smith (88 off 99), caught at slip, and he sealed the deal by dismissing Brydon Carse (38 off 48) in the 68th over. With an economy of 4.67, Akash used the fifth-day pitch’s swing and seam perfectly, swinging the game India’s way. His maiden Test five-for, part of a 10-wicket match haul, was pure class, helping India clinch a 336-run win.