Not many had given this young Indian bowling attack a chance. In fact, the moment it was known that Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t playing, it was suggested that England would score 600 each time they batted and India did not stand a chance.
Such words always have one desired impact – they hurt the egos of elite high performers and push them to go one step further to prove the critics wrong. Akash Deep, who was hardly given much build-up ahead of the Test match, decided to put his hand up, and how. Each time India needed something special, he was there. Take the ball he bowled to Harry Brook. It was one of the best deliveries you will see on a placid pitch. It came in a mile and Brook had no idea what it did. It jagged back and trapped him in front, giving India a huge wicket at the start of day 5. With that wicket, the Indian fans who had taken over the Eric Hollies Stand found voice. Every ball thereafter was cheered, and every wicket was celebrated with a Mexican wave.
Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna too stepped up. On the stroke of lunch, when the partnership desperately needed to be broken, Washington trapped Stokes lbw. That was when India started to believe. The tail would soon be out there, and it was a matter of time. When Chris Woakes fell to a short ball from Prasidh, India were a step closer. The only issue was Jamie Smith, who yet again batted beautifully for his 88. Perhaps it was fitting that Akash would get him. The trap was set, and Smith walked into it giving India’s best bowler his much-deserved five-for.
Also Read: Akash Deep magic lit up a gloomy Edgbaston evening
The truth is that this victory is as big as the Gabba in January 2021. Fortress Edgbaston has been breached, and the series is level with Bumrah all set to come back at Lord’s. The truth also is that you don’t need superstars to win Test matches. You need a collective and a team that believes in itself. A team that bonds together and wants to win. Shubman Gill, who has been magical with the bat, has successfully stitched it together and Gautam Gambhir, who has received much flak, has backed his captain. This is the new India that is on show. A team that wants to compete and push England without fear.
The series is level, and India can start to dream. These boys are ready for Lord’s, and they will not give England an inch.
The party at Edgbaston has just begun and it will go on pretty late into the night. And Gambhir will say, as he always does, “we will fight.”
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