Image: Shubman Gill powered India in the 2nd Test against England in Birmingham / © ESPNCricinfo
With the end of day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on July 3, 2025, India took complete control against England. India piled up a huge 587 runs in their first innings, thanks to a stunning 269 from captain Shubman Gill. By stumps, England were struggling at 77/3 in 20 overs, still 510 runs behind. Gill’s massive knock, backed by solid contributions from Ravindra Jadeja and others, put India in a commanding position, while England’s early batting collapse left them with a mountain to climb in this Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy clash.
The day started with India at 310/5 from day 1, with Gill on 114 and Jadeja on 41. England, led by Ben Stokes, hoped to wrap up India’s innings quickly, but Gill and Jadeja had other ideas. They built a strong partnership, frustrating England’s bowlers on a flat Edgbaston pitch. Gill played with calm focus, picking gaps and hitting boundaries, while Jadeja attacked with confidence. Their sixth-wicket stand grew to 203 runs, setting the tone for India’s dominance.
Gill’s innings was pure class. He reached 150 off 263 balls early in the morning, handling England’s pacers like Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse with ease. He flicked and drove spinners like Shoaib Bashir for singles, keeping the scoreboard moving. Jadeja reached his fifty off 80 balls, celebrating with his signature sword-twirl. By lunch, India were 419/6, with Gill on 168 and Washington Sundar, who came in after Jadeja’s dismissal, on 1. Jadeja fell for 89 off 137 balls, caught behind off Josh Tongue’s sharp delivery. His 10 fours and a six had given India a strong boost.
After lunch, Gill kept going, forming a 144-run stand with Sundar, who scored a steady 42 off 103 balls. Gill reached his double century off 311 balls, earning cheers from the crowd. He went past 250 off 348 balls, hitting 29 fours and 3 sixes. His 269 broke records as the highest Test score by an Indian in England, beating Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 from 1979, and the highest by an Indian captain. When Gill fell, caught by Ollie Pope off Tongue, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. India’s tail added crucial runs, with Akash Deep scoring 6 off 13 and Mohammed Siraj making 8 off 23. Prasidh Krishna stayed not out on 5 off 20, helping India reach 587 in 151 overs, their highest total at Edgbaston.
England’s bowlers worked hard but struggled. Shoaib Bashir took 3/167 in 45 overs, while Woakes (2/81) and Tongue (2/119) got key wickets. Stokes (1/74) and Joe Root (1/20) chipped in, but the pitch offered little help. India’s batting was relentless, with partnerships like Gill’s 203 with Jadeja and 144 with Sundar proving decisive. The total was England’s highest conceded in the Stokes-McCullum era, topping Pakistan’s 579 in 2022.
England’s choice to bowl first, hoping for swing under cloudy skies, backfired as the pitch stayed flat. Gill’s captaincy was smarter than in the first Test, with clever field settings. Resting Bumrah sparked debate, but Gill defended it, citing better conditions for him at Lord’s. Leaving out Kuldeep Yadav for Sundar’s batting depth also raised questions, but Sundar’s 42 justified the call. England’s fans were frustrated, with some blaming the pitch, while others felt their bowlers lacked bite.
England’s reply began late in the day, with 20 overs to bat. India, missing Jasprit Bumrah due to workload management, relied on debutant Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. Akash struck twice in his third over, removing Ben Duckett for a duck, caught by Gill in the slips, and Ollie Pope for a golden duck, caught by KL Rahul. England were 13/2 in 2.5 overs, under pressure. Zak Crawley made 19 off 30 before Siraj had him caught by Karun Nair, leaving England 25/3 in 7.1 overs. Joe Root (18* off 37) and Harry Brook (30* off 53) fought back with an unbeaten 52-run stand.
Brook’s flicked four off Prasidh Krishna showed his class, but England faced a massive 510-run deficit. India’s bowlers were sharp. Akash Deep’s 2/36 in 7 overs showed his pace, while Siraj’s 1/21 in 7 overs was tight. Prasidh Krishna (0/11) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/4) kept things disciplined, with Nitish Kumar Reddy bowling a tidy over for 1 run. The pitch was slow but showed signs of turn, hinting at trouble for England later. India used one review unsuccessfully against Brook, while England held onto theirs.
Being the winner of the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game here, Akash Deep’s third over turned the tide for India during England’s innings on day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston, July 3, 2025. With England at 13/0 after two overs, chasing India’s massive 587, Akash delivered a wicket-maiden that rocked the hosts. Bowling at speeds up to 87mph/140kph, he first dismissed Ben Duckett for a five-ball duck, inducing a thick edge that captain Shubman Gill spectacularly caught at third slip, diving left to grab the ball with both hands. The next ball, Akash struck again, removing Ollie Pope for a golden duck.
Pope’s edge off a full-length ball that nipped away was dropped initially by KL Rahul at second slip, but caught on the second attempt. England slumped to 13/2 in 3 overs, with a run rate of 4.33. Akash’s figures stood at 2/12 from two overs, his tight line and subtle movement proving deadly. Joe Root, on 0 off 1 ball, survived the hat-trick ball, defending solidly. Zak Crawley, 11 off 13 with two fours, watched from the other end. Akash’s fiery spell, backed by three slips, gave India a roaring start.
The player who should get the TCNI’s Hero of the Day award is Ravindra Jadeja for his crucial 89 off 137 balls on day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston, July 3, 2025. With India at 211/5, struggling after quick dismissals of Rishabh Pant (25) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1), Jadeja stepped up. Partnering with Shubman Gill, he anchored the innings, ensuring India didn’t collapse. His resilient knock, with 10 fours and a six, came at a strike rate of 64.96, blending caution with aggression. Jadeja’s 50 off 80 balls, celebrated with his iconic sword-twirl, lifted the team’s spirits.
The 203-run sixth-wicket stand with Gill (269) pushed India to 414/6, setting the stage for their massive 587. Jadeja’s refusal to give away his wicket against England’s bowlers, including Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir, was pivotal when India needed stability. Though he fell short of a century, caught by Jamie Smith off Josh Tongue, his effort helped India dominate. By stumps, England were 77/3, trailing by 510 runs. Jadeja’s gritty performance, alongside his tight 0/4 in 2 overs, made him a key figure in India’s commanding position.
India’s 587 came from key partnerships: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 80 with Karun Nair, Gill’s 66 with Jaiswal, and his massive 203 with Jadeja. Sundar’s contribution ensured India crossed 550, unlike their collapse in the first Test. England’s 77/3 left them needing 388 to avoid the follow-on. Root, close to 3,000 Test runs against India, and Brook, with his attacking style, will need big scores to keep England in the fight. Hence, they will be looking forward to keeping things well within the range for the second innings now.
Heading into day 3, India is firmly in charge. Their bowlers, led by Akash Deep and Siraj, will aim to exploit any pitch wear, while Jadeja’s spin could be key. England’s “Bazball” approach faces a tough test against India’s attack. This World Test Championship match is crucial for India to level the series, while England hopes to protect their 1-0 lead. Gill’s epic 269 has set the stage, and India will push to tighten their grip.