Have England abandoned Bazball? Stokes pays the price for defensive approach

Dubai: India completed a comprehensive win against England in the second Test at Edgbaston on Sunday, bouncing back from a final-day defeat in Leeds to level the five-match series 1-1.

After nearly nine days of dominance across two matches, India finally got the reward their aggressive, disciplined cricket deserved. Leading from the front was captain Shubman Gill, who scored a sublime double century (269) in the first innings and followed it up with a rapid 161 in the second, becoming the spine of India’s batting revival in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The bowlers backed him up with relentless intensity. Mohammed Siraj’s six-wicket haul in the first innings broke England’s middle order, while Akash Deep’s 10-wicket match haul, including a match-sealing 6/99 in the second innings, underlined India’s fast-bowling superiority.

It was a complete team effort. Ravindra Jadeja, typically tireless, chipped in with twin fifties and two crucial century partnerships with Gill that batted England out of the contest. With a massive 608-run target, England folded for just 271, losing by 336 runs.

One of the most glaring observations across the two Tests is the apparent absence of ‘Bazball’ — the ultra-aggressive approach that England have championed under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. At Edgbaston, the hosts seemed strangely passive, caught between styles and undone by the very pitches they had prepared.

Both Leeds and Edgbaston offered flat tracks, shorn of grass, presumably to blunt India’s potent seam attack. But the plan misfired. Without James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England’s bowling lacked bite, while India’s attack — led by Siraj, Akash Deep and supported by the ever-disciplined Jadeja — proved far more effective even on lifeless surfaces.

“In the deeper stages of the game, the pitch suited India more than us,” admitted Stokes after the loss. “We tried everything, changed plans… but when a team is on top of you, it’s tough to wrestle momentum back. And the opposition is world-class — Shubman had a fantastic game.”

The victory earned high praise from India’s legends. Former captain Virat Kohli hailed the team’s fearless attitude. “Brilliantly led by Shubman with the bat and in the field, and impactful performances from everyone. Special mention to Siraj and Akash for the way they bowled on this pitch,” he posted.

Yuvraj Singh called the win one to remember. “Away from home, backs to the wall… #AkashDeep was fearless and unplayable, and @ShubmanGill showed maturity beyond his years!”

Virender Sehwag, too, singled out Gill’s 430-run match aggregate and called it “the Shubman Gill Test match,” while Sourav Ganguly described India’s seam duo as “workhorses,” adding: “India win without Bumrah... can’t be a better result.”

Sanjay Manjrekar summed it up cheekily: “India not ‘Gumrah’ without Bumrah.”

England chose to field again, but after KL Rahul’s early exit, an 80-run stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) and Karun Nair (31) set the tone. Gill’s 269 came in marathon style, with major partnerships — 203 with Jadeja (89) and 144 with Washington Sundar (42) — pushing India to 587.

England responded with a spirited stand between Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184 not out), who added 303 runs, but once Siraj and Akash Deep took the new ball, the last five wickets fell for 20.

In the second innings, India piled on more agony. Gill and Jadeja once again punished the English bowlers, with a 175-run partnership helping India declare at 427/6, setting England a massive 608 to chase.

The target proved too much. England lost early wickets, and despite a fighting 88 from Jamie Smith, Akash Deep ran through the middle order to bowl them out for 271.

Shubman Gill, fittingly, walked away with the Player of the Match award — a captain’s performance that not only levelled the series but may have set the tone for the rest of it.