Phew. That brings us to the end of an extremely run-laden, record-breaking and historic Edgbaston Test. India take the honours from here by levelling the series by 1-1. Now then, it's a quick turnaround for both sides as the caravan now heads towards the Home of Cricket, The Lord's for the third Test. Both teams will be reinforced by some of their key players as Jasprit Bumrah will be back for that game for India, while for England, Jofra Archer might feature. But with just a three-day gap for that Test, how much will the fatigue come into play? Only time will tell. The Lord's Test kicks off on Thursday, 11th July and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). But till then, you can catch the other cricketing action happening elsewhere. From this matchcenter, then, it's goodbye! Take care, cheers!

One of the few bright sparks for England in an otherwise lopsided contest was Jamie Smith. He emerged as a rare positive for England, unfurling a superb counterpunch with his brilliant hundred in the first innings and forming a record-breaking 303-run stand with Harry Brook, even as seasoned names like Root and Pope faltered. But England’s top-order woes were glaring. On a surface that produced 1,692 runs on aggregate, their openers contributed just 44 across both innings, repeatedly undone by India's pinpoint new-ball discipline. Fixing that fragility will be crucial moving forward.

India’s dominance across the Edgbaston Test was underpinned by their superior use of the new ball, right through the Test. While England’s pacers, particularly Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse, often resorted to shorter lengths, more suited to bouncier southern hemisphere tracks, India’s seamers stuck to fuller lengths, zeroing in on the stumps, which reaped rich rewards on this slower surface. That tactical clarity allowed them to extract movement, create pressure, and strike early in both innings. Akash Deep, stepping in the massive shoes of Jasprit Bumrah, made an instant impact with his control and intent, including a peach to dismiss Joe Root. Siraj, leading the attack, bowled with heart and precision, setting the tone with his relentless energy. Together, they brought the pitch to life and made the ball talk.

The Indian skipper, Shubman Gill, is deservedly named PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stellar display with the bat. Reflecting on the team’s performance, he shared that everything they addressed after the previous Test was put into action this time around. Tells that the improvements across departments, particularly in bowling and fielding, were clear. Adds that on this kind of a wicket, they knew if they got 400-500 runs, it would be enough. Appreciates his bowlers and says that they were magnificent with the way they went through the English top order. On Akash Deep's bowling, Gill mentions that he hit the right lengths and was getting the ball to move in both directions, which is pretty difficult to do on such pitches. On his batting, he says he is feeling very comfortable and it feels great that the team wins the match because of his contributions. On being asked about Bumrah's selection for the Lord's Test, he informs that Jasprit Bumrah will feature in the third Test.

The captain of England, Ben Stokes, admits that not being able to capitalise after having India at 211 for 5 in the first innings was a key moment in the game. He shares that things could have panned out very differently had they managed to break through quickly at that stage. Stokes believes that as the match progressed, the pitch began to suit India more than England and he did not expect the surface to play this way on the final day. Reflects on being 84 for 5 in the first innings, noting that it left his side playing catch-up from that point onward. He says his side tried everything they could with the ball, but concedes that when a team like India gets on top, it becomes incredibly difficult to wrest back control. Stokes also touches on the physical and mental demands of the game, saying it’s always tough when you spend an entire day in the field and then have to bat at the end of it. He adds that the team will find themselves in more such situations going forward and that it’s about learning to adapt and grow as individuals. Praises Jamie Smith for the way he batted and feels that his wicketkeeping often goes under the radar. Mentions that the partnership between Smith and Harry Brook was very special.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

After a rain-delayed start on Day 5, India had a race-against-time kind of scenario, as ten overs were lost due to rain. But they tightened their grip in a pivotal first session on Day 5, striking thrice to leave England tottering at 153/6 by Lunch. Akash Deep set the tone early, removing Pope and Brook in a fiery burst, while Washington Sundar landed the telling blow just before the break by trapping Stokes. Post Tea, Jamie Smith did offer strong resistance, but once he fell on a brilliant 88, the Indians just took the wind out of their sails. Akash Deep finished off with a six-fer, and overall snagged 10 wickets in the whole match. This led to India's first-ever win in Birmingham after eight unsuccessful attempts, including 7 defeats and a draw.

Day 4 saw India assert their dominance with the bat, highlighted by Shubman Gill’s superb 161. England began well, with overhead conditions helping them remove both overnight batters. But Rishabh Pant walked in and quickly took the wind out of their sails with a typically counterattacking innings. Although Pant fell after lunch, he had already provided India with the perfect launchpad. Jadeja and Gill then adopted a more cautious approach until Tea before accelerating in the final session to set up the declaration. Gill finished with 430 runs in the match, the second most in Test history and the highest by an Indian. Having toiled all day, England were set a massive target of 608, and their day went from bad to worse as they lost three out of their top four before stumps.

Day 3 witnessed quite the see-saw battle and was one of those days that left you wanting more. India started strongly, with Mohammed Siraj striking twice in two balls to reduce England to 84/5, still trailing by 503 runs. Jamie Smith then launched a spirited counterattack, joined by Harry Brook, as the duo shifted the momentum with a marathon 303-run stand. Both batters brought up centuries on either side of the lunch break, with Smith going on to score 184, the highest by an English wicketkeeper in Test cricket. It was only after the second new ball that fortunes turned for India, with Akash Deep and Siraj wrapping up the innings once Brook was dismissed. Siraj finished with six wickets. India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal late in the day but still ended with a commanding 244-run lead.

Day 2 belonged entirely to India. Gill turned his overnight ton into a majestic 269, the highest ever by an Indian Test captain, blending patience with precision. He formed marathon partnerships with Jadeja (89) and Washington Sundar (42), guiding India to a mammoth 587. England’s bowlers toiled with little reward, their short-ball tactics falling flat. When it was their turn to bat, India’s seamers flipped the script. Akash Deep struck twice in two balls, and Siraj added a third to leave England reeling at 25/3. Root and Brook steadied the ship, but by stumps, India had already stamped their authority on the match.

Now, let's take a sneak peek at how this Edgbaston Test progressed. Ben Stokes gambled on a flat Edgbaston pitch, inviting India to bat, and for a moment, it looked like the move might pay off. KL Rahul fell early, but Karun Nair and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched together a steady 80-run stand. Jaiswal looked fluent before falling for 87, triggering a brief wobble as India slipped from 208/3 to 211/5. But Shubman Gill, calm as ever, soaked up the pressure and brought up a graceful century, while Jadeja played the perfect foil. The pair saw off the second new ball and closed Day 1 at 310/5, firmly in control.

After the bruising defeat at Headingley, where India let slip a match that was firmly in their grasp, the pressure heading into Birmingham was immense. The scars of that collapse ran deep, and the urgency to bounce back and level the series was unmistakable and desperate. Amidst that backdrop, India made a bold, calculated call, by resting Jasprit Bumrah, their premier fast bowler, despite the stakes. Bumrah had bowled 43.4 taxing overs in Leeds, and with a packed calendar ahead, the management rested him for this Test. It was a move that raised eyebrows, especially given they were coming into this game on the back of a defeat. And yet, India pulled it off, with clarity, composure, and a touch of flair.

EDGBASTON HAS BEEN BREACHED AND HOW! Akash Deep stands tall and still, arms spread wide and aloft, eyes lifted to the heavens, soaking in a moment that has eluded generations. India have broken the Birmingham barrier at last. It couldn’t be done in the era of the legendary Kapil Dev, slipped away during MS Dhoni’s storied reign, and narrowly missed under the passionate charge of Virat Kohli. But today, under the fresh-faced command of Shubman Gill, history has been created. India seal their largest-ever victory by runs on overseas soil, thumping England by a staggering 336 runs. A statement win, not just in margin, but in dominance across all five days.