India arrived at Edgbaston under pressure. After losing the first Test at Headingley, questions swirled around head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team's ability to bounce back in red-ball cricket.
With just three wins in his first 11 Tests as coach, Gambhir's coaching tenure had been under heavy scrutiny, especially following the series defeats against New Zealand at home and Australia away. But at Edgbaston, India flipped the script.
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Under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, the visitors produced a dominant all-round performance to level the series and breathe life into the Test series.
Gautam Gambhir's selection gamble paid off
Gambhir's backing of a fresh bowling attack drew some criticism before the match but Akash Deep proved his mettle with a five-wicket match haul, including a new-ball masterclass on Day 4 that dismissed Ben Duckett and Joe Root.
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Mohammed Siraj's early strike also helped set the tone as England stumbled to 72 for 3 chasing a record 608.
Shubman Gill playing captain's innings
Gill's twin centuries - 269 and 161 - were at the heart of India's win. On a flat pitch that asked for temperament more than flair, the young skipper showed both.
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With his aggregate of 430 runs, he became the first player in Test history to score 200 and 150 in the same match. This was not just about numbers - it was a captain's innings in every sense.
Pant, Jadeja and Rahul also chipped in with contributions.
A timely boost for Gautam Gambhir
This win does not erase the early stumbles of the Gambhir era but it does offer a glimmer of the future he envisions. The road ahead in the series remains challenging but India's showing at Edgbaston has brought Gambhir and this team valuable time and belief.