India rested Jasprit Burmah but understudy Akash Deep ensured he was not missed by demolishing England’s top order in the second Test
So much for India being in trouble without Jasprit Bumrah.
With the team’s star pace bowler given a rest, Akash Deep – Bumrah’s replacement – was the unlikely inspiration behind India’s series-levelling 336-run win over England.
Deep claimed the first five-wicket haul of his short Test career, removing four of the top five in England’s batting order and then top scorer Jamie Smith (88) on the way to claiming figures of 6-99. He had match figures of 10-187.
India wrapped up their victory just before tea on the final day at Edgbaston on Sunday.
Set a world-record target of 608, England started the final day on 3-72 with a draw their only realistic hope and were all out for 271 as India sealed a first win at Edgbaston in nine attempts.
It levelled the five-match series at 1-1 heading into the third Test at Lord’s, starting Thursday.
India recovered well after a tough defeat at Headingley last week, when England chased down 371 on the final day.
Bumrah was left out to preserve his fitness but Deep was a more-than-able deputy. At age 28, he is a late bloomer but looks the part already with his nagging line and length. Surely he will retain his spot at the ‘Home of Cricket’.
“He bowled with so much heart and the areas and the lengths he hit, he was just getting the ball to move both ways,” India captain Shubman Gill said. “He was just magnificent for us.”
Asked if Bumrah would be back for the third Test, Gill replied: “Definitely.”
Gill was the tourists’ other star in the second Test, making 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second innings in a record-setting performance that has supercharged his first series as Test captain.
“I’d say I’m feeling comfortable with my game,” Gill said. “Hopefully with my contribution, India will be able to win this series. That would be a great achievement for us.”
England captain Ben Stokes pointed to the failure to get the Indians out cheaply in the first innings after reducing them to 5-211 as the key part of the match. India went on to post 587 all out and never looked back.
“We ran in, we tried everything, we changed plans, we manoeuvered it when we could,” Stokes said. “But when a team is on top of you, and India are a class team, it is always hard to wrestle the momentum back.
“They ended up getting a big first innings total after us having a good start. I think if we’d been able to burst them open when we did have them five down then the game would potentially have played out a little bit differently.
“It’s no secret that we have spent some time in the field and bowled some overs in the first two games so we’ll have to see how everyone pulls up over the next two days. With it being a quick turnaround there probably will be a decision we have to make.”
While Bumrah will be returning for India, the quick turnaround is likely to see England turn to Jofra Archer for his first Test match since February 2021.
