- When the touring Indian cricket team lost the first Test at Leeds even after posting substantial scores in both innings must have riled the management, die-hard supporters, connoisseurs, and the BCCI mandarins no end. Remember, Indian batters scored five centuries, including one each in the two innings by Rishabh Pant, but still ended up on the losing side. England batters simply decimated the Indian bowlers in the second innings, notching up a record chase with such nonchalance and ease. Yes, the cricketing world is aware that the Bazball – an attack is the best form of defence canon – has defined English cricket in the last few years. It served the hosts well, as was evidenced in the first Test match at Leeds, winning the match hands down.
PC: myKhel
- Team India must have felt devastated by the result, with the newly minted captain Shubhman Gill scoring a remarkable century in the first Test. Thus, the second Test was looked at with renewed interest even as Team India announced the non-selection of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, as pre-decided as part of the workload management. It was being conjectured in the cricketing circles that the visitors would be greatly handicapped by the pacer’s absence. However, the way things turned around in the second Test at Birmingham must have warmed the cockles of all concerned, especially the players themselves, for spectacularly triumphing over England by a huge margin of 336 runs. What a momentous turnaround in the fortunes in a matter of days? Unbelievable.
PC: Sky Sports
- The tone was set by a magnificent double hundred by Shubhman Gill, striking a delightful 269, aided by Yashaswi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja in the first innings. A score of 587 is always considered mammoth in a Test. England’s first innings score of 407 was built around eye-catching hundreds from Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, with others contributing nothing. Six ducks in the innings signified how little was contributed from the rest of the batters. Indian pacers led by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep were simply amazing, scalping 6 and 4 wickets respectively. The Indian second innings was again spearheaded by Shubhman Gill, scoring a classy 161, duly aided by half-centuries from KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.
PC: The Indian Express
- Yes, cricket pundits were voicing skepticism about delaying the declaration as Team India set a gargantuan 608 as the target. Mind you, there were threats of rain forecast for the last day. However, Indian bowlers could remove three top-order batsmen in the last hour of the fourth day, setting the tone for the ensuing domination on the final day. Pacer Akash Deep was superb in the second innings, ending up with 6 wickets and 10 for the match. All the other bowlers chipped in to ensure Team India closed the match with a massive victory. Captain Shubhman Gill was rightly declared the player of the match. The series is levelled at 1-1. Team India has bounced back splendidly. The rest of the series promises mouthwatering stuff for sure. Bring it on!
 and century (161). The series is now leveled 1-1, marking a remarkable turnaround in India's fortunes driven by outstanding batting performances and effective bowling led by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.){kind=link}