India achieved their much-awaited breakthrough at Edgbaston, thrashing England by 336 runs on Sunday to win their first Test at the venue after trying for 58 years. The record victory leveled the five-test series 1-1, forcing the authorities in England to go back to the drawing board.

Captain Shubman Gill accumulated 430 runs across both innings through a maiden double-century of 269 and a commanding second innings of 161. 25-year-old skipper knocked 30 boundaries and three maximums, the second-highest aggregate by any batsman in a single Test match in cricket history. 

While Gill dominated with the bat, it was Akash Deep who capped off India's dominance with a five-wicket haul of 6-99 in England's second innings, taking 10 wickets in the match to become only the second Indian bowler since Chetan Sharma in 1986 to use English conditions to such devastating effect.

Video courtesy: TOI Sports

The 27-year-old Bengal pacer, stepping in for the rested Jasprit Bumrah, delivered when it mattered most. "I think he bowled with so much heart and the areas and the lengths that he hit, he was just getting the ball to move both ways," Gill praised his pace spearhead. "On wickets like these, it's difficult to do that, he was just magnificent for us." Fittingly, it was Akash Deep who dismissed the final batsman, with Gill taking the catch at cover to seal India's historic victory. 

Despite the margin of loss, England showed classic resilience through Jamie Smith's performances. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 184 not out in the first innings and 88 in the second innings for a combined total of 272 runs in both innings to be England's highest scorer.

There was a 303-run sixth-wicket partnership between Smith and Harry Brook in the first innings that dragged England out of a precarious 83-5 position. But the tourists' bowling team, led by Mohammed Siraj's 6-70 in the first innings, prevented England from cashing in on their individual bravery.

Video courtesy: TOI Sports

England captain Ben Stokes reflected on the missed opportunities: "Having them at 200/5 and not being able to burst them open... You look back at the start of the game, 200/5, if we were able to get some wickets quicker, things could have been a little different."

India's strategic changes have shifted the momentum in their favour heading into the Lord's. Bumrah's confirmed return strengthens an already formidable attack, with captain Gill stating "Definitely" when asked about his star bowler's availability for the third Test. 

Meanwhile England face significant preparation challenges ahead of the Lord's encounter. The hosts have added Gus Atkinson to their 16-man squad after his recovery from a hamstring injury, joining Jofra Archer as potential bowling reinforcements. Captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the workload concerns, noting "It's no secret that we have spent some time in the field and bowled some overs in the first two games" with their three frontline seamers having bowled between 77 and 82 overs across the opening two Tests. Archer, who has been training with the team and is described as "fit and ready to go," could make his first Test appearance in over four years, while Atkinson's return provides additional firepower for a bowling attack seeking fresh legs.