Shubman Gill's record-breaking performance in the recent Edgbaston Test against England has not only secured a series-levelling victory for India but has also seemingly alleviated some of the pressure mounting on head coach Gautam Gambhir. The resounding 336-run win, India's first-ever at Edgbaston in nine attempts, has been hailed as a "lifeline" for Gambhir, whose tenure had been under scrutiny following a string of underwhelming performances in Test cricket.

Gambhir's coaching stint, which began in July of last year, includes a Champions Trophy title won in Dubai. However, the team's Test performances have been a cause for concern. Before the Edgbaston Test, India had only managed one win in their previous nine Test matches. This included a whitewash against New Zealand at home and a defeat on their tour of Australia, which also resulted in missing out on the World Test Championship final. The losing trend continued with a defeat in the first Test against England in Leeds.

Former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna believes that the Edgbaston victory has provided Gambhir with much-needed respite. He emphasized Gill's role in the win. Gill became the first player in Test history to score 250 and 150 in the same match. His scores of 269 and 161, combined with Akash Deep's 10-wicket match haul, were instrumental in India's triumph. Akash Deep, who replaced Jasprit Bumrah, made it easy for the visitors by taking 6/99 in the second innings.

Gill's performance has drawn comparisons to Virat Kohli, with Jonathan Trott noting similarities in their batting styles. Gill is just the second Indian, after Sunil Gavaskar, to score a double-hundred and a hundred in the same Test. Gill's current tally in the series stands at 585 runs after just four innings.

The Edgbaston victory also holds historical significance for India. It is their first Test win at Birmingham in their ninth attempt since 1967. India also became the first Asian team to win a Test at Edgbaston. Furthermore, it is India's biggest Test win on English soil, surpassing their 279-run win in 1986. It also marks their biggest overseas Test win by margin of runs. Shubman Gill also became the 25th Indian captain to win a Test match.

Following the win, Gill praised the team's all-round effort, especially their response after the first Test setback. He also acknowledged Akash Deep's impressive bowling performance. Gill expressed excitement for the upcoming Test at Lord's.

The victory has instilled a sense of unity and positivity within the Indian team. With the series now level at 1-1, India will head into the third Test brimming with confidence. The match begins on Thursday, July 10, at Lord's Cricket Ground.

In related news, Gautam Gambhir recently responded to criticism surrounding his coaching and the notion that some former players treat Indian cricket as their "personal fiefdom". He asserted that his focus is on making the country proud and building a fearless team. Gambhir emphasized that Indian cricket belongs to the people of India.