India is on the verge of securing a historic victory at Edgbaston, thanks to a devastating spell of bowling from Akash Deep on the final day of the second Test against England. England, chasing a daunting target of 608, were left struggling at 153-6 at lunch, requiring another 455 runs for an improbable win.
Akash Deep's performance was instrumental in India's push for victory. Resuming play after a rain delay, Deep quickly dismantled England's top order, claiming crucial wickets. He first dismissed Ollie Pope, who played a rising delivery onto his stumps. Deep then trapped Harry Brook lbw with a sharp off-cutter, further denting England's hopes.
The young pacer had also taken the wickets of Ben Duckett and Joe Root late on day four. Replacing Jasprit Bumrah in the lineup, Deep exploited a seaming pitch that came alive after four days. His ability to generate movement and extract bounce troubled the English batsmen, who struggled to cope with his relentless pressure.
Washington Sundar also contributed to India's success by dismissing Ben Stokes just before lunch. Stokes, who had formed a 70-run partnership with Jamie Smith, was trapped lbw, leaving England in a precarious position. Ravindra Jadeja's tight bowling before lunch also helped create the opportunity for Sundar to strike. Jadeja extracted significant turn from the rough patches on the pitch, making it difficult for the batsmen to score freely.
India's dominant performance has brought them closer to their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston. A victory would also level the series 1-1, after England won the first Test at Headingley. Moreover, this win would extend India's world record for Test victories at the most venues. India has won at least one Test at 59 different grounds, the most among all Test-playing nations. A win at Edgbaston would make it 60.
India has been winless at Edgbaston since 1967. The pursuit of a record-breaking chase faltered as they lost the overnight batters and their captain before lunch. The conditions favored India, with overcast skies and rain delays adding to the challenge for the English batsmen. At lunch, only Jamie Smith remained as a significant obstacle, with the tail-enders left to follow. With 55.3 overs remaining, India needed just four more wickets to seal a historic victory.
