England captain Ben Stokes conceded that his side was thoroughly outplayed by a “world-class” Indian team, as India roared back to level the five-match Test series 1-1 with a dominant 336-run victory at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
India’s Shubman Gill, who was named ‘Player of the Match’, played a starring role, scoring 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second, for a record-breaking 430 runs in the match.
“The opposition is world class, Shubman had a fantastic game,” Stokes admitted at the post-match press conference.
Reflecting on the turning points, Stokes highlighted two key moments where England had a chance to shift the match in their favour.
“Two moments,” Stokes said.
“Having them at 200 for 5, we were really happy there and not being able to burst them open there and being 80 for 5, it’s tough to be able to scrape it back from there,” he added.
Stokes also discussed the decision to bowl first, a move that seemed to work early on but ultimately played into India’s hands as the match progressed.
“It’s a tough one. As I said, when you have them on 200 for 5 you’d be happy, but as the game got deeper and deeper, it suited India more than us,” he noted.
India’s Domination Led by Gill
Shubman Gill’s remarkable 430-run performance was the cornerstone of India’s first-ever Test win at Edgbaston. His twin centuries ensured England were always chasing the game.
India also benefited from Akash Deep’s 10-wicket haul, and Washington Sundar’s all-round contributions, including a valuable 42-run knock and the key wicket of Ben Stokes.
Jamie Smith and Harry Brook Shine for England
Despite the loss, Stokes praised the efforts of Jamie Smith, who scored an unbeaten 184 in the first innings and 88 in the second, totalling 272 runs.
“Jamie’s been incredible since he’s come into the team. He’s been exceptional with the bat and goes massively under the radar as a wicketkeeper. He stuck to his guns and played his natural game,” Stokes said.
Harry Brook also played a vital role, contributing 158 in the first innings, as he and Smith put on a 303-run partnership that briefly pulled England back into the contest.
Looking Ahead to Lord’s
Stokes acknowledged the need for introspection ahead of the third Test at Lord’s.
“Couple of days to think about it, but it’s been a tough week, so we’ll see how we shape up at Lord’s,” he said.
With the series now tied 1-1, both sides will head to Lord’s with renewed focus. England may consider bolstering their bowling attack, with Jofra Archer possibly in the mix, while India will look to build on their momentum.