The second Test between India and England at Edgbaston has concluded with India securing a historic 336-run victory, their first-ever Test win at the venue. This leveled the five-match series at 1-1. Several players from both sides delivered noteworthy performances, while others struggled to make an impact. Here’s a rating of how the Indian and English players fared:
Indian Players
Shubman Gill (10/10): Leading from the front, the young captain was the star of the match, scoring 269 and 161. Gill's control percentages across his two innings were 93.28 and 96.50 respectively. Gill's aggregate of 430 runs in the match is the second-highest by any batter in a single Test at Edgbaston. Gill also became the seventh batter to score centuries in his first two Tests as captain.
Akash Deep (9.5/10): Replacing Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep proved to be the game-changer for India, taking 10 wickets in the match. His 6 for 99 in the second innings earned him his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Akash Deep became the second Indian bowler to claim a 10-wicket haul in a Test match on English soil. He dedicated his performance to his sister, who is battling cancer.
Ravindra Jadeja (9/10): Jadeja contributed significantly with both bat and ball, scoring 89 and 69*. He also took 1 wicket and bowledexceptionally in the second innings.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (8.5/10): Jaiswal set the foundation for India's first innings total with 87 and 28 runs.
Mohammed Siraj (8/10): Siraj led India's pace attack, taking 6 for 70 in the first innings.
Rishabh Pant (7/10): Pant played aggressively, scoring 25 and 65. However, he missed a catch.
KL Rahul (6.5/10): Rahul contributed a valuable 55 in the second innings.
Prasidh Krishna (5/10): Krishna took 1 wicket in each innings.
Karun Nair (5.5/10): Nair got starts in both innings but failed to capitalize, scoring 31 and 26.
Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/10): Reddy had a disappointing outing, scoring only 1 and 1. He was dismissed after a poor leave in the first innings.
Washington Sundar: Contributed with a key wicket.
English Players
Jamie Smith (8/10): Smith was a standout performer for England, scoring 184* and 88. His 184 is the highest score in Test cricket by an England wicketkeeper. Smith's century was one of the fastest by an English player in Test cricket.
Harry Brook (7.5/10): Brook scored 158 in the first innings.
Ollie Pope (4/10): Pope failed to make a significant contribution, dismissed cheaply in the second innings.
Ben Stokes (5/10): Stokes had a relatively quiet match, with a golden duck in the first innings.
The Edgbaston Test was a historic win for India, showcasing Shubman Gill's leadership and batting prowess, and Akash Deep's impressive bowling skills. Jamie Smith's exceptional performance was a bright spot for England, though other key players like Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes failed to fire. The series is now level at 1-1, with the third Test at Lord's on July 10th promising to be a thrilling encounter.
