Author: Trisha Ghosal

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham England couldn’t prise India open when it mattered, and from there, the visitors ran away with the game. A mammoth first-innings total, seamers who hunted relentlessly with the new ball, and moments of pure class from Shubman Gill made sure England were always chasing. Stokes fronted up after the loss with trademark honesty and resilience — crediting the opposition, but also refusing to let this dent England’s long-term belief. On what went wrong “You can’t win a Test if you don’t take 20 wickets,” Stokes admitted. “India is full of world-class players. Shubman batted exceptionally well,…

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham India barely put a foot wrong after being sent in to bat on the opening morning at Edgbaston. With a towering first innings total of 587, incisive spells from their seamers, and decisive use of the second new ball, the visitors pushed England deep into corners — 84/5 in the first innings, 83/5 in the second. Shubman Gill, leading India for the first time in Tests, didn’t just stamp his authority with the bat, but with sharp field settings and brave calls, including one short-ball burst from Prasidh Krishna that turned the game. Gill’s double-century and…

By Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham Edgbaston felt less like a stadium and more like a concert hall this week. Over two innings and four days, Shubman Gill turned cricket into a symphony—and himself into its most elegant conductor. Day 2 was the overture. Gill’s 269 wasn’t a knock. It was composition—each stroke in tempo, each leave an intentional pause. He played with time, grace, and precision. Drives through cover rang like violins, flicks like flutes, pulls like deep, resonant drums. There was no rush, no panic—only rhythm. The Indian diaspora made Edgbaston their own. Wrapped in tricolours, beating dhols, and…

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham After being handed a 608-run mountain to climb, and losing key wickets before stumps, England’s lead batting coach Marcus Trescothick fronted the media with a tone that was both realistic and defiant. While conceding that the situation is “challenging,” Trescothick made it clear that England haven’t parked the bus just yet. But he also acknowledged that a draw, under such pressure, would not be a bad result. “We’re not stupid… we’ll go for it” – On England’s mindset “It will be challenging —absolutely,” Trescothick said, reflecting on the size of the task. “But once the ball…

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham India asserted complete control over the Test match with a relentless display of pace bowling under fading Birmingham light. After Shubman Gill’s imperious second-innings ton helped set England a towering target of 608, it was the seamers — led by Akash Deep — who lit up Edgbaston, blowing away the English top-order. Bowling coach Morne Morkel, addressing the media at day’s end, was visibly pleased with how his attack executed plans. Dream delivery: On Akash Deep’s ball to Root “That’s the sort of delivery you dream of as a fast bowler,” Morkel said of the peach…

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham There was a chill in the Edgbaston breeze and tension in the press box. India had England on the ropes. Joe Root and Ben Stokes—England’s heart and spine—were gone in the first half-hour. The Dukes ball was seaming, zipping, and doing all the things it promised in an English July. The Indian attack, led by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, was breathing fire. But that theatre faded fast. Soon, the crowd came alive—cheering louder with each boundary, rising with every elegant Harry Brook flick and Jamie Smith drive. By the time the 100-run stand came up,…

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham It was India’s day again at Edgbaston. After reducing England to 84/5, the visitors looked set to dominate. But then came a stunning 303-run partnership between Harry Brook and debutant Jamie Smith that brought England roaring back. However, a late collapse triggered by the second new ball saw England all out for 420. England are trailing by 244, India still has nine wickets in hand, the game seems to be slipping—but Harry Brook believes there’s still hope. After stumps, he addressed the press. On where the match stands “Yeah, they’re ahead at the moment. But in…

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham It was a day where England threatened to turn the game. From 84 for 5, Jamie Smith and Harry Brook stitched together a mammoth 303-run partnership. But India didn’t let the advantage slip. They were ruthless with the second new ball — Mohammed Siraj struck gold with six wickets, Akash Deep chipped in with four, and the rest of England’s line-up folded swiftly. With a lead of 244 and nine wickets in hand, India are in a strong position, correcting all the errors that haunted them in Leeds. Akash, who starred with the ball, addressed the…

By Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham There’s something about silence before a storm. On Matchday minus two, in the quiet rhythm of a net session, Mohammed Siraj wasn’t just bowling, he was setting himself on fire. Every ball in the nets hissed with purpose. And now, here in the heat of Edgbaston, that fire was roaring. Siraj had been living in Jasprit Bumrah’s vast shadow, serving as the tireless second fiddle, often effective but rarely game-defining. But with the leader of the pack absent, this Test was a question thrown at Siraj: If not now, then when? And the Hyderabad fast…

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham India owned Day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston, with captain Shubman Gill hammering a majestic 269 — setting a record for the highest Test score by an Indian in England. England’s seamers toiled with little reward, and the early batting collapse only compounded their misery. At three down in response to India’s towering 587, it was a forgettable day for the hosts. Facing the press was England’s assistant coach Jeetan Patel, who offered a sobering assessment, but also signalled the team was not ready to throw in the towel. On Shubman Gill’s Knock Patel…