India bounced back in the five-match Test series against England by thrashing the hosts by 336 runs at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Sunday. This also marked a landmark moment for Indian cricket, with the tourists finally breaking the Edgbaston jinx after nine matches, registering their first win in Test cricket at the venue. India lost seven Tests and drew one in their previous outings at the venue. After winning the match, captain Shubman Gill - who led from the front by scoring 430 runs, including 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second - credited his bowlers for stepping up and delivering the confidence-boosting win in a Test where the team's ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah had to sit out due to workload management.

At the start of the match, both Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir had faced a lot of flak for their defensive approach, as they preserved Bumrah for the upcoming Tests and preferred Akash Deep for the very important second Test, with India eyeing a series-levelling win. But by the end of the match, the dust of criticism had settled, and praise came their way, with Indian cricketers standing out on the big occasion to deliver the team's biggest-ever win away from home.

Akash Deep, who was playing in England for the first time, snapped up 10 wickets - 4 in the first innings and 6 in the second - while Mohammed Siraj scalped 7 wickets - 6 in the first and one in the second innings. The two bowlers ensured India never felt the absence of Bumrah in a match where a win was crucial to keep the series level. Prasidh Krishna, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar also picked up a wicket each in England's second innings as the hosts crumbled for 271 while chasing a mammoth target of 608 runs.

"Without Jasprit bhai, there were a lot of questions about whether we could do the job. But Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj bowled magnificently," Gill said at the post-match press conference. "This is one of the best Indian teams to tour England. Bumrah is one of the best bowlers in the world, but we believe we can take 20 wickets anywhere," he added.

Gill acknowledged the tactical challenges as a captain, especially on a pitch that appeared to be docile. However, Akash Deep and Siraj's effective use of variations, swing, and pace worked wonders for India. "When the ball becomes soft, the most important thing is to stop the runs. With the second new ball, wickets come easier. I wanted to take risks when they were five down in the first innings with short stuff but leaked runs there," Gill said.

Gill - the first player ever to play 250-plus and 150-plus innings in a single Test - downplayed personal feats. "When you look at the scorecard, you don’t think about personal milestones," he remarked, emphasising leadership through consistency and discipline. "Sometimes you need to lead by example. If a good ball gets me out, it's okay, but I won't throw it away." With the series tied at 1-1 now, India will head to Lord's holding their heads high, hoping to make it 2-1.