India is on the cusp of a commanding victory in the Second Test Match against England at Edgbaston, having displayed a comprehensive domination across all facets of the game. Despite trailing 1-0 in the Test series, the team’s performance at Edgbaston has been lauded by former England cricketers, highlighting their superior play.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain, speaking to Sky Sports, emphasized India's consistent excellence throughout the nine days of the Test series. He noted that India had definitively won more sessions than England, making their current strong position crucial to level the series at 1-1 before heading to Lord's. Hussain commended India's exceptional performance with both bat and ball, specifically pointing out that their seamers extracted more from the new ball on the pitch than England’s did. He singled out Akash Deep’s “absolutely wonderful” new ball burst as a key factor.

Stuart Broad echoed Hussain’s sentiments, explaining that the drier surfaces at Edgbaston allowed the new ball to nip, contributing to India’s ability to generate more swing than the English pacers. Broad praised Akash Deep's outstanding spell, highlighting his slightly shorter stature compared to English bowlers like Carse and Tongue, which enabled him to bowl a different length that effectively brought the stumps into play. Broad candidly admitted that India had “outbowled England in this Test match and outbatted them,” which accounted for their formidable lead of 536 runs with a full day’s play remaining and needing only seven wickets to secure the win. Broad also expressed his surprise at India’s ability to rebound so superbly after their disappointing loss at Headingley, where they had controlled the Test match but ultimately conceded a large target on the final day.

A significant factor in India’s batting prowess and overall dominance has been the evolving and highly effective partnership between Test captain Shubman Gill and his deputy, Rishabh Pant. Four and a half years after Pant was hailed as Gill's “hero” following the famous Gabba heist in 2021, their bond has only deepened, manifesting in seamless on-field chemistry. Despite their fun-loving public personas, their conversations at the crease are often deep and strategic.

Their collaboration has yielded crucial partnerships, including an imperious 167-run stand against Bangladesh in Chennai following Pant’s return from injury, a double-hundred stand at Headingley in the previous Test, and a vital 110-run partnership at Edgbaston. Pant, characterized by his restless and flamboyant aggression, perfectly complements Gill’s calm and steady approach. Their ability to deflate opponents and consistently accumulate runs has firmly established them as indispensable pillars of India’s Test batting lineup. Ravi Shastri, India’s head coach during the 2021 Gabba Test, reminisced about how Pant and Gill independently strategized their approach to winning that game. At Edgbaston, even as England resorted to bizarre field settings to disrupt their rhythm, Pant’s counterattacking style and Gill’s consistent flow of runs proved effective. Gill’s calming influence proved crucial in regulating Pant’s adrenaline, as seen when Pant vowed to avoid a particular shot after a missed attempt. Their mutual care extends beyond the field, highlighted by a member of Gill’s family staying near Pant’s hospital after his life-threatening car crash. This profound understanding and strategic collaboration underscore their success, propelling India towards a potential series-leveling victory.