Shubman Gill Scripts History, Becomes First Player In 148 Years To...
Gill shone with the bat on Satuday before Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep again struck with the new ball as the tourists pressed for a series-levelling win at Edgbaston.
Gill declared India's second innings on 427-6 after tea on the fourth day.
That left England needing a mammoth 608 runs to go 2-0 up in this five-match series.
No side in 148 years of Test cricket have made more to win in the fourth innings than the West Indies' 418 against Australia at St John's in 2003.
England's corresponding record is the 378 they made against India at Edgbaston three years ago.
But at Saturday's close in Birmingham they were 72-3, needing a further 536 runs on the final day to achieve a win that would be remarkable even by this team's 'Bazball' standards.
Harry Brook, who helped keep England afloat in their first innings with 158 in a total of 407, was still there on 15 not out.
Siraj, who led India's attack with 6-70 in the first innings, struck an early blow Saturday when he removed Zak Crawley for a duck as a loose drive went straight to backward point.
Deep, given the unenviable task of replacing the rested Jasprit Bumrah, the world's number one ranked fast bowler, then carried on from his four-wicket haul first-time around by bowling Ben Duckett (25) with a nip-back ball.
He then clean bowled Joe Root for just six as the world's number one-ranked Test batsman was undone by a superb full-length delivery that moved away late.
Earlier, by taking his tally in this match to 430 runs, the 25-year-old Gill became only the fifth batsman to score 400 or more runs in a single Test.
Gill, thrust into the captaincy following Rohit Sharma's shock retirement from Test duty in May, has scored three hundreds in his first four innings as skipper following his 147 during India's five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Headingley.
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India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
First signs of 'Gill Era' promise: India's superstars and heroics at Birmingham, in numbers
Birmingham [UK], July 7 (ANI): Following some promising signs at Leeds despite a five-wicket loss, the massive ceiling and unreal potential of Indian cricket's 'Gill era' was at full display at Birmingham as Team India snapped their ages-old winless streak at Edgbaston against England with a 336-run win, after seven painful losses and a draw. Several records were shattered by Shubman Gill himself, while the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep made the new ball do its magic on a surface that looked absolutely lifeless for bowlers after the Dukes' ball got older and softer. A Harry Brook-Jamie Smith triple-century partnership was a counterattack that attempted to thwart India's efforts of making amends for poor bowling at Leeds, but incredible character, resilience and skill-set was on full display as after a Gill, Rishabh Pant-powered blitz in the second innings, the pace attack managed to replicate the 'Virat Kohli era' magic on a pitch that seemed to offer very little, in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Without the presence of pace pack leader Bumrah and the legendary duo of 'Ro-Ko' (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli), a new-look India has levelled the series and delivered a befitting reply to critics doubting if the side was even worth touring to England, one of the toughest nations to tour. The Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum-led 'Bazball' school of cricket faced a dilemma: Whether to bravely go for a 608-run chase or swallow their pride and settle for a rare draw. England could not do either of those, struggling to balance their defensive and attacking sides of the game and fell flat on their faces with a massive blot on their resume. After the match, here is a deep dive into the performances of the win's biggest architects and their records: -Captain Gill gives a bittersweet 'Deja vu'. With two record-breaking innings of 269 and 161, skipper Gill tore into the record books like no other Indian skipper, not even his idol Virat. A major upgradation was carried out in Indian cricket history as Gill reshaped the narrative surrounding him with each stroke. 'Giving away his solid starts', 'Poor stats in overseas', 'Gill does not have as much aura as Virat', it just took a couple of knocks to wipe these jibes out, at least for this series. With 430 runs across both innings, Gill has the second-highest aggregate of runs in a single Test, behind England's Graham Gooch, who had an output of 456 runs after scoring 333 and 123 against India at Lord's back in 1990. He also became the second batter to register 150-plus scores in both innings of a Test after Allan Border (150* & 153) against Pakistan in Lahore in 1980. Gill's outing is also the first instance of a 250-plus and 150-plus score in a Test by a batter. He has become only second Indian after Gavaskar to hit a double ton and century in the same Test, scoring 124 and 220 against West Indies at Port of Spain in 1971. Other batters having achieved this feat include Australia's KD Walters, West Indies RG Lowe, Australia's Greg Chappell, England's Gooch, WI icon Lara, Sri Lanka's Sangakkara and Australia's Marnus Labuschagne. He has also outdone ex-skipper and legendary batter Virat Kohli (243 and 50) to have the highest aggregate by an Indian captain in a Test match. Virat's effort came against Sri Lanka at his home stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium, back in December 2017. Gill is the second Asian batter with 350-plus aggregate in a Test outside the subcontinent after Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad (354: 17 and 337) at Bridgetown in 1958.' The youngster is also the third Asian batter to have a 300-plus run aggregate in a Test taking place in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (SENA) countries after Rahul Dravid (305) and Sachin Tendulkar (301) did that in Adelaide and Sydney, respectively in 2003-04. He is also the third Indian captain to have a 100-plus score in both innings of the Test, besides Gavaskar (against West Indies in Kolkata, 1978), Virat (against Sri Lanka in 2017). Gill is the second player to record three hundred in his first two Tests as captain after Virat Kohli. He is only the sixth Indian to score a 250-plus score in Tests, joining the elite company of Virender Sehwag, who did it four times, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Karun Nair and Virat Kohli. Gill is the first Indian to do so outside of the Indian subcontinent; the previous best was Sachin's masterclass of 241* against Australia at Sydney in 2004. He joined Rahul Dravid (217 at The Oval in 2002) and Sunil Gavaskar (221 at The Oval in 1979) to become the third player to score a double ton for India in England against England in Tests. Gill became the first-ever Indian captain to reach the double ton against England in England, outdoing Mohammad Azharuddin's 179 at Old Trafford in 1990. Also, with a quick flurry of boundaries after the milestone, he leapfrogged past legendary Sunil Gavaskar's 221 at The Oval in 1979 to have the highest-ever individual score by an Indian in England. Gill joined the elite company of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rohit Sharma to become the fourth Indian with a century in Tests and ODIs both. The youngster also surpassed Kohli's 254* against South Africa in 2019 to have the highest score ever by an Indian captain. Gill also became the third Indian captain with a 150-plus Test score before turning 26, after Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (twice) and Sachin Tendulkar. This is also the second instance of a double ton by an Indian skipper overseas, nine years after Virat Kohli's 200 against West Indies back in 2016 at North Sound. The 25-year-old strokeplayer also became the first Asian captain with a double century in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia (SENA), the previous best score being 193 by Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan at Lord's in 2011. He is the second-youngest Indian captain to score a Test double ton at the age of 25 years and 298 days, below Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi against England in Delhi back in 1964 at the age of 23 years and 39 days. Also, there have been 11 double centuries hit by captains in England, four from the hosts and seven others from visiting teams. It is only South African legend Graeme Smith, who reached the milestone at a younger age than Gill, with knocks of 277 and 259 in back-to-back Tests at Edgbaston and Lord's in 2003, the first of these coming at an age of 22 years and 175 days. It took Gill only three innings as a captain to reach his double ton, the joint-quickest for India, alongside Sunil Gavaskar (205 vs WI, Wankhede, 1978). After this seemingly endless re-writing of batting records, Gill also became the youngest Indian captain to win a Test overseas; the previous youngest was Sunil Gavaskar (26y 202d) vs NZ in Auckland in 1976. This 336-run win is also India's biggest win away from home, outdoing their 318-run win over West Indies at North Sound back in 2016, while they defended a total of 419. MRF bat in hand, captaincy armband, a dashing strokeplayer with a superstar status, breaking records in England. A script we have seen it before, Virat Kohli. It is a much powerful sequel with a change in main character, who also happened to be an underdog just like his idol was at one point. -Rishabh Pant: India's main man for SENA, climbing up the echelons of greats At this point, it is safe to say Pant is India's greatest Test wicketkeeper-batter, having surpassed MS Dhoni. After managing 25 runs in the first innings, Pant delivered an entertaining, counter-attacking and crucial 65 in 58 balls, with eight fours and three sixes in the second. This made him the first-ever Asian wicketkeeper-batter to reach 2,000 Test runs in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia (SENA) countries, a hallmark of his adaptability to tough conditions. Not satiated with being counted amongst Indian greats, Pant is challenging the global greats as well. In this series, Pant is the third-highest run-getter, with 342 runs in four innings at an average of 85.00 and a strike rate of 81.81, with two centuries and a fifty. His best score is 134. -Yashasvi Jaiswal: Opener's stocks continue to rise in overseas conditions Before this series, much was expected from Jaiswal after a successful Border-Gavaskar Trophy and an incredible home season. With a century on his debut in England at Leeds and valuable knocks of 87 and 28 at Birmingham, he is truly justifying his hype. Jaiswal became the fastest Indian to reach 2,000 Test runs, joining legends like Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, who did so in 40 innings. In 21 Tests and 40 innings, he has 2,018 runs at an average of 53.10, with five centuries and 11 fifties, with a best score of 214*. In this series so far, he has 220 runs in two Tests at an average of 55.00, with a century and fifty each and best score of 101. -Mohammed Siraj bamboozles England with his 'Miyan Magic' Siraj was destructive in this Test, with a spell of 6/70 in the first innings that gave Team India a 180-run lead they could build on. This brilliant spell, carried out largely with the new ball, helped him leapfrog Jasprit Bumrah (four times) to have the most instances of four or more wickets in an innings in England, with a total of five such instances. Bumrah has 42 wickets in 10 Tests in England, and this workhorse of a bowler is slowly catching up with his 'Game-changer Jassi bhai', with 32 wickets in eight matches at an average of 33.81, with a six-wicket haul and four four-wicket hauls to his name. -Akash Deep's historic ten-for in the face of adversity Heading back into the side after an injury lay-off and a poor Indian Premier League (IPL), Akash Deep adapted to English conditions like fish to water, becoming only second Indian to take a ten-wicket haul in a match in this country after Chetan Sharma back in 1986. In fact, his spell of 10/187 (4/88 in the first innings and 6/99 in the second) is the best-ever spell by an Indian in England. Akash's seam movement and new-ball magic sucked the life out of England's top-order, leaving them as helpless as a headless chicken without their most productive batters, Ben Duckett and Joe Root. Following the match, he revealed his elder sister's cancer diagnosis and how he played this game just to put a smile on her face. 'The biggest thing is that I have not told anyone yet. My elder sister has been suffering from cancer for the last 2 months. She is stable now. She is fine. She will be the happiest. She has been going through this mentally for the last 2 months. She will be the happiest. I was playing this match for her. I have to make her happy for this match,' Akash Deep said while talking to batter Cheteshwar Pujara, now on broadcasting duties. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"It shows temperament, skill and, importantly, the fitness level": Anjum Chopra reflects on Shubman Gill's historic Birmingham outing
By Karunesh Kumar Faridabad (Haryana) [India], July 7 (ANI): Former India women's cricketer Anjum Chopra hailed Indian test skipper Shubman Gill for his superb double hundred in the first innings, followed by a hundred in the second innings of the 2nd test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. She felt Gill performed stupendously and showed temperament, skills and fitness level in his innings. Gill led from the front following his memorable 269(387) in the first innings and then topped it up with a flamboyant 161(162) in his second turn to rewrite the history books on the fourth day of the second test. While speaking to ANI, Anjum Chopra said, 'In terms of batting, obviously it's a stupendous performance for any batter to score a 100 is special too for a batter to go and score a double 100 is even more special and somebody who can make it two in the same test match that calls for a great applause it shows the temperament the skill and more importantly the fitness level.' With a whopping 430 runs across both innings, Gill has the second-highest aggregate of runs in a single Test, behind England's Graham Gooch, who had an output of 456 runs after scoring 333 and 123 against India at Lord's back in 1990. Chopra also applauded Indian seamer Akash Deep as he mesmerised one and all with a ten-wicket haul in a critic-silencing, era-defining win over England at Edgbaston by 336 runs, India's first-ever Test win at the venue. She said coming from an injury and delivering such effort in both innings is very special. The pacer etched his name in the record books by registering the best bowling figures in a match for India in England, surpassing the long-standing record held by Chetan Sharma. Deep's match figures of 10/187 edged past Sharma's 10/188. 'Akash Deep was brilliant not just because he was coming in as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, but I think in itself if you just see it in isolation the performance of him from where he was when in Australia to an injury he picked up he played a very few matches in the recently concluded IPL and then coming in and not just one two but such a massive effort and in both innings it's a very special,' she added. After picking up 4/88 in the first innings to lay the foundation, Akash Deep returned in the second innings to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with 6/99. Coming to the match, Team India scripted history by defeating England for the first time at Edgbaston, Birmingham, in Test cricket. The emphatic 336-run victory not only marked a landmark win but also helped India level the five-match Test series 1-1. (ANI)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Not his double ton or Akash Deep's 10-fer! Shubman Gill shares most special Edgbaston moment
India's captain Shubman Gill waves to the fans after their win against England on day five of the second cricket test match at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England. (AP/PTI)(AP07_06_2025_000446B) After leading India to a thumping 337-run victory over England at Edgbaston, captain Shubman Gill shared his emotions on what he called one of the happiest moments of his cricketing journey so far. 'I was meant to take the last catch of this match and I'm very content and happy with how we were able to finish,' Gill said on Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'But I think three more important matches are to come, and a quick turnaround is good for us because the momentum is now with us,' Gill added, with his voice reflecting both relief and pride. Gill underlined how India's all-round performance had set the tone for this triumph. 'In this match, the way everyone came and contributed with the ball and bat, those are huge positives. When different people step up at different stages, that's what you want. That's what makes a champion team. Those were some great signs for us,' he said. Soaking it all in with Shubman Gill 😊 Pitch side with the #TeamIndia Captain after the historic Test win at Edgbaston 🙌 #ENGvIND | @ShubmanGill — BCCI (@BCCI) July 7, 2025 For Gill, this victory held deeper significance. 'We have worked very hard to be in this position. Over the past six to eight months, I know how hard it was to get a Test win, especially to do it here where we hadn't won a Test ever. "I just want to say I'm very proud of everyone. On Day One, we mentioned it was going to take each and every one of us to win a Test in this country, and everyone contributed. Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir shut critics with thumping win over England "This is something that I would cherish for the rest of my life, probably whenever I would retire, I think this would be one of my most happiest memories While his own double century and Akash Deep's ten-wicket haul will be remembered, Gill revealed the moment he would treasure the most. 'But the most special thing for me in this Test match was Siraj's catch on the final day,' he said, highlighting how simple moments of brilliance can define an unforgettable team victory. The series is locked at 1-1 and the third Test will be played at Lord's, starting from Thursday. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
