Sachin Hails Shubman Gill’s First Win as Test Captain; Ganguly Says ‘Without Bumrah’

Sachin Hails Shubman Gill’s First Win as Test Captain: The Indian team is thrilled as they finally broke the jinx at Birmingham, with Shubman Gill, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj being the stars as they won their first ever match at Edgbaston Stadium on Sunday.

It was a team effort all the way, whether 269 and 161 from Gill, ten wickets from Akash Deep, six from Siraj in the first innings or two fifties from Ravindra Jadeja, every one contributed as India levelled the series 1-1. Indian batting legend and former Test captain Virat Kohli said the team was "fearless and kept pushing England to the wall".

Set a world-record 608 to win, England folded for 271 just before Tea on Day 5, with pacer Akash Deep delivering a dream performance, 6/99 in the second innings to go with his 4 wickets in the first.

The 28 year old who was only drafted into the XI after Jasprit Bumrah was rested, tore through England’s top order and then came back to get the in-form Jamie Smith on 88 to effectively seal the game. The catch was taken by none other than Gill, who symbolically finished the game that was won by his leadership and batting.

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Former India batter and cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar was impressed by the side's dominant performance, writing, "A Shublime innings from the man of the moment! Congratulations, @ShubmanGill, on powering India to a brilliant Test victory! @RishabhPant17, @klrahul, and @imjadeja batted very well, especially in the 2nd innings.

"India’s approach was to take England out of this game and force them to play differently, making sure that there would only be 1 winner.

"What impressed me most about the bowlers was the length they bowled. Needless to say, Akash Deep was the standout bowler, and in my opinion, he bowled the ball of the series to Joe Root.

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P.S.: Enjoyed the catch taken by Mohammad “Jonty” Siraj."

Former Indian captain Saurav Ganguly hailed the team and also the "workhorses" Akash Deep and Siraj.

"What a performance from shubman gill and his team.. with the bat and now with the ball..akasdeep and Siraj just brilliant .indian attack looking far superior than the English attack .. Akasdeep and Siraj are workhorses. India win without Bumrah..It can't be a better result with the fantastic Gill in charge. What a fantastic batting effort.. @bcci @ShubmanGill," he posted.

England were 608 behind and that was always going to be impossible. Akash Deep in his first Test took 10 wickets across both innings. He got Root, Pope and Brook and never let England get going. Sundar never let England get going. Sundar and Jadeja got important wickets and Siraj’s energy and safe hands in the field lifted the team.

India heads to the Lord’s with confidence and momentum. Bumrah will be back for the 3rd Test, but Gill and Deep have ensured India’s bench strength and future is secure.

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