Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Shubman Gill’s team after the visitors registered a 336-run win against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Not only this is India’s maiden Test win at this venue but also their biggest away win in terms of runs.
Chopra highlighted that tourists ticked the right boxes with both bat and ball as Shubman Gill, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj were the stars of the show. Gill amassed 430 runs in the game, shattering many records whereas Deep and Siraj collectively bagged 17 wickets.
Deep took a 10-wicket haul and registered the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in English conditions (10-187). Siraj had also returned with impressive figures of 6-70 in the first innings.
“It was both record-breaking and record-making. History has been created at the Edgbaston ground. Captain (Shubman) Gill had laid the foundation, with a mountain of runs. More than 1000 runs, the first time ever in the history of Indian Test cricket, and then if it was Miyan Magic (Mohammed Siraj) in the first innings, it was Akash Deep in the second innings,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“We had never won at Edgbaston to date, but we have done that now. If we see the last few overseas wins, we have created history every time. We had never won in Cape Town, the Optus Stadium in Perth, and the Gabba, but we have won there now. We are conquering frontiers we hadn’t conquered thus far. We made Bazball lick dust. This win needs to be celebrated. We have outplayed the opposing team in every department,” he added.
The renowned commentator noted that the duo of Siraj and Deep got the majority of wickets and backed Jasprit Bumrah to replace Prasidh Krishna in the third Test at Lord’s.
“What will be the road ahead from here? Of course, we have won this Test match and have picked up 20 wickets, but we should also be pragmatic. In the bowling attack you played, two bowlers actually got you all the wickets. The other bowlers didn’t contribute that much. When we reach the Lord’s ground, if (Jasprit) Bumrah comes, Prasidh Krishna will go out,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer pointed out that the all-rounder trio of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja didn’t contribute much with the ball.
“Ravindra Jadeja has bowled decently, but hasn’t picked up wickets. He has scored runs, but hasn’t gotten wickets. Nitish Kumar Reddy is playing purely as a batter because he is not bowling that much. So there will be a question whether you want to keep him only at No. 6. Washy scored runs, but can you play Kuldeep (Yadav) in his place?” Chopra observed.
The third Test match between India and England will be played at Lord’s, London from 10th July onwards.
