When it comes to cricket, the story is always brought out by a result. Not only does victory obscure the perceived errors in strategy, but it also redefines the narrative. The 2nd Test between India and England at Edgbaston demonstrated this in totality. The team selection of India left eyebrows raised with the rest of the star paceman Jasprit Bumrah, even though the team trailed 1-0 in the series, Kuldeep Yadav misses out, along with selecting two batting all-rounders.
Yet at the conclusion of five days, India had not only quietened those critics but even etched their names in the annals of cricket history, having registered their biggest-ever away Test win in terms of runs, a 336-run thumping of England at a venue where they had never previously won. Although this outcome failed to exonerate the entire selection process, the important lesson that this provides is that it was enough to muffle the controversy and get concentration back into the field of play.
The toss could have written another chapter to the script, though. Shubman Gill, the Indian captain, said after his side lost that he also would have bowled first had he had the choice to make because that was the right action to have taken. Former England opener Mark Butcher added the 1st Test at Edgbaston: “Had England made an enormous score, this could have been Gill’s last encounter as a captain of his team” referencing the statement made earlier by former India coach Ravi Shastri that “England will get away with batting first but Gill will not have.”
India happened to be dominant; luckily for Gill. Setting the example by leading with a first innings record-breaking score of 269 runs, he became the first Test player ever to score a double ton and a 150 in the same game by smashing 161 in the second innings. As Akash Deep took 10 wickets, India tied the five-Test series, 1-1, and Gill made his reputation as a pressure captain.
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