The second Test match between England and India at Edgbaston concluded with a commanding 336-run victory for India, effectively leveling the five-match series at 1-1. This historic win, India’s first-ever at Edgbaston, sets the stage for a highly anticipated third Test at Lord's, starting on Thursday.

India’s triumph was largely spearheaded by a phenomenal all-round team effort. Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with an unprecedented batting display, becoming the first player in Test history to score 250 and 150 in the same match, with innings of 269 and 161 respectively. His maiden Test captaincy win was marked by exceptional leadership both with the bat and in the field. Overall, India’s batters have been dominant, accumulating 1,849 runs and celebrating seven centuries across four innings in the series so far.

The Indian bowling attack, despite the absence of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah who was rested for the Edgbaston Test, proved to be far superior to England's. Akash Deep emerged as the standout bowler, delivering career-best match figures of 10 for 187, including a superb 6 for 99 in the second innings. His dismissal of Joe Root was lauded by legendary Sachin Tendulkar as the "ball of the series." Mohammed Siraj also contributed significantly with seven wickets across both innings, impressing with his consistent performance and an acrobatic catch. Former cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, and Michael Atherton were effusive in their praise for India's performance, particularly highlighting Gill’s leadership and the impactful bowling of Akash Deep and Siraj. Michael Atherton described the win as "massive," especially given it was achieved without Bumrah, who is confirmed to return for the Lord's Test.

Conversely, England faces a significant bowling conundrum following their heavy defeat. Captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the team's inability to "blast them open" when India were 200-5 on the first day, allowing the tourists to post a large total. Coach Brendon McCullum admitted that the decision to bowl first was a mistake, as the wicket played differently than expected. The English bowlers, notably Josh Tongue (4-212) and Shoaib Bashir (5-286), toiled hard with high returns. In response to the heavy workload and the need for fresh impetus, Surrey quick Gus Atkinson, returning from a hamstring injury, and Jofra Archer have been added to the squad for the third Test. Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue are the likeliest candidates to be rested. Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain cautioned that while England desperately needs a player of Archer's caliber, his long absence due to injury makes his return a "fingers crossed" situation. Jamie Smith provided some resistance for England with an unbeaten 184 in the first innings and 88 in the second, but lacked sufficient support.

Looking ahead, India captain Shubman Gill has voiced concerns over the quality of the Dukes ball, noting its tendency to lose shape and softness quickly, making it difficult for bowlers to extract assistance. He also commented on the flat nature of the Edgbaston pitch, hoping for a more challenging surface at Lord's. Despite the challenges, England captain Ben Stokes emphasized the team's ability to remain level-headed through "ups and downs," acknowledging the series would have ebbs and flows against "two very good teams." Both teams now shift their focus to Lord's, where India aims to continue its momentum and England seeks to regain control in what promises to be a compelling third Test.