India’s breakthrough at Edgbaston raises stakes for rest of the series

England bolster pace attack as both teams prepare for intense battle at Lord's

Last updated:
A.K.S. Satish, Sports Editor
4 MIN READ
Indian captain Shubman Gill and his deputy Rishabh Pant is enjoying the win against England at Birmingham.
Indian captain Shubman Gill and his deputy Rishabh Pant is enjoying the win against England at Birmingham.
BCCI/X

Dubai: It took nearly 68 years and eight failed attempts, but India finally conquered Edgbaston. At the heart of this historic triumph was captain Shubman Gill, whose commanding batting and leadership inspired his team to a landmark 336-run victory over England.

Gill, in just his second Test as captain, starred with a double century and a century, guiding India to their first win at this venue since 1967. India had previously played eight Tests at Edgbaston without a single victory. Only the Kensington Oval in Barbados has been a tougher ground for India, with nine Tests played and no wins.

This win also extended India’s record for Test victories at the most venues. Having played at 85 different grounds since their Test debut in 1932, India have now won at 60 of them — the highest among all Test-playing nations. Australia ranks second with 57 venues and England third with 55.

Gill’s batting has been nothing short of spectacular. In four innings so far, he has accumulated 585 runs at an average of 146.25, leading the series in runs scored. His match aggregate of 430 runs (269 and 161) at Edgbaston is the second-highest in Test history, only behind Graham Gooch’s 456 at Lord’s in 1990.

Reflecting on the win, Gill emphasised the importance of teamwork and resilience, especially given the absence of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

“I’m very happy we won the match. No matter how many runs you score, if the team doesn’t win, it doesn’t feel like you’ve achieved anything. It’s my first win as a Test captain, and we’ve done it at a ground where India had never won before — that makes it even more special. Motivation is always there, whether you win or lose,” said Gill.

“After losing the first Test, we weren’t panicking. We’ve come back from 0—1 before. We knew if we consistently posted 400—450 runs, our bowlers would bring us back into the match,” he added.

Gill also praised the pace attack for their performance. “There were questions — could we take 20 wickets, could we score big runs? But we knew we were close in the last match too. Had we held on to half the chances, the result could have been different. I’m especially proud of our pacers. When your fast bowlers take 16—17 wickets, it makes the job much easier for the captain. Bumrah didn’t play this match, but India has depth. The bowlers showed they’re among the best in the country and can take 20 wickets in any conditions.”

Gambhir strengthens his role

The victory brings relief for coach Gautam Gambhir, who had been under scrutiny following defeats against New Zealand and Australia.

Former India all-rounder Yograj Singh said, “Indian players are consistently growing and improving their game. We will support them always. We should not speak about Gautam Gambhir because he is doing well. Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Rahul Dravid are giving back to cricket because they have received so much. Even if our team loses the series, we should not demoralise them. If you lose, you will not be there to explain; if you win, you don’t have to explain. We hope that we win the series under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.”

In response, England have recalled pace bowlers Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson, with Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue expected to make way. England captain Ben Stokes described the Edgbaston pitch as more like a subcontinental surface than a typical English wicket and voiced the team’s preference for more pace and bounce in the remaining matches.

Jofra challenge

“It will be a challenge, Jofra coming in,” India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters. “There might be a couple of bowling changes in the England team, but that we don’t know.”

With a historic win finally under their belt, India enter the remainder of the series brimming with confidence and momentum. Gill’s commanding leadership and sublime batting have not only ended a long-standing Edgbaston drought but also sent a clear message to England: this team is hungry and ready for the challenge ahead.

A.K.S. Satish
A.K.S. SatishSports Editor
From playing on the pitch to analysing it from the press box, Satish has spent over three decades living and breathing sport. A cricketer-turned-journalist, he has covered three Cricket World Cups, the 2025 Champions Trophy, countless IPL seasons, F1 races, horse racing classics, and tennis in Dubai. Cricket is his home ground, but he sees himself as an all-rounder - breaking stories, building pages, going live on podcasts, and interviewing legends across every corner of the sporting world. Satish started on the back pages, and earned his way to the front, now leading the sports team at Gulf News, where he has spent 25 years navigating the fast-evolving game of journalism. Whether it’s a Super-Over thriller or a behind-the-scenes story, he aims to bring insight, energy, and a fan’s heart to every piece. Because like sport, journalism is about showing up, learning every day, and giving it everything.
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