India eyeing series leveller in 2nd test after dominating Eng , Gill, bowlers shine

 

 

India are in a commanding position to level the series against England after four days of high-quality Test cricket at Edgbaston. With a mammoth 608-run target set for England and three of their top-order batters already back in the pavilion, India have a golden opportunity to wrap up the match on the final day.

The tone was set early on Day 4 when Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja resumed batting after the tea break. Commentary discussions quickly turned to one key question: When will India declare? There was speculation about the kind of target Shubman Gill, leading the side, would want to set and how many overs he’d give his bowlers to claim 10 English wickets.

By the end of the fourth day, one thing became clear — England’s chances of pulling off a win are almost negligible. Even though Test cricket is known for its unpredictability, chasing 536 on a final day is virtually impossible, especially with the top three batters already dismissed. England were 72 for 3 at stumps, leaving bowlers like Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj ready to hunt down the remaining seven wickets on Sunday.

India had a lead of 244 runs at the end of Day 3. On Day 4, KL Rahul and Karun Nair began with cautious intent, showing that India were aiming to set a big total. Shubman Gill was at the heart of it all. Since taking over the captaincy, his batting has transformed — not just technically, but mentally as well. He has altered his stance and approach, playing with calm authority. Mistimed shots have reduced significantly, and he’s now much more assured in leaving deliveries outside off and middle. Throughout both innings at Edgbaston, Gill never looked troubled. Ironically, both his dismissals came while trying to accelerate, not due to any outstanding bowling.

In this Test, Shubman has stitched together four century partnerships — twice with Jadeja, once with Rishabh Pant, and once with Washington Sundar. On Saturday, Pant’s arrival at the crease gave India the momentum they needed. His aggressive strokeplay allowed Gill to settle before shifting gears. Shubman responded with his fastest century in Test cricket, ultimately scoring a breathtaking 161 off just 162 deliveries. At one stage, he was batting like it was a T20 match, showing clear intent to take the game completely away from England.

By the time he departed, India’s lead was close to 600. Alongside Gill’s hundred, half-centuries from Pant and Jadeja further solidified India’s position. Gill also etched his name into the record books, becoming the only batter in Test history to score a double century and a 150+ in the same match. His aggregate of 430 runs is now the highest by any Asian batter in a single Test match.

Despite the dominance, India’s late declaration raised eyebrows. Did Shubman and head coach Gautam Gambhir not fully trust their bowlers to defend 500+? It’s possible that England’s successful 371-run chase in the previous Test lingered in their minds, making them extra cautious. However, if rain intervenes on Day 5 or India fail to pick up the remaining wickets, questions will certainly be asked of their delayed declaration.

Nevertheless, India struck hard with the new ball. Mohammed Siraj dismissed Zak Crawley for a duck, while Akash Deep bowled both Ben Duckett (25) and the dangerous Joe Root (6). Duckett’s dismissal came as a result of poor footwork, likely due to fatigue. Root, on the other hand, was simply outclassed — he failed to read the line and was left stunned as his stumps were shattered. Akash Deep’s performance with the new ball was so impactful that leaving him out of the remaining three Tests would be a grave mistake.

There are, however, concerns about the weather. Rain is forecast for Sunday, and given the state of the Edgbaston pitch, taking all seven remaining wickets in fewer overs could prove difficult. But India can draw confidence from the fact that rain predicted on earlier days of the Test never materialized. Should Day 5 offer a full day’s play, India will have a solid chance to level the series and head to Lord’s with renewed belief and momentum.