Islamabad, July 8, 2025: In the second India vs England Test that India won by 336 runs, the fast-bowling pair Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep destroyed England by claiming 17 of the 20 wickets. Siraj took match figures of seven for 127, while Akash achieved his career-best 10 for 187.
The conditions were far from what one usually associates with English grounds. There was minimal seam movement and almost no swing, with the Dukes ball losing its shape after about 20 overs.
Delivering breakthroughs under such challenging settings with limited opportunities highlighted their exceptional talent. Until the Birmingham Test, only Jasprit Bumrah was regarded to have this knack. India’s loss at Leeds in the opening Test reflected this. Resting the 31-year-old Bumrah in the second Test to manage his workload seemed a risky move.
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However, Siraj and Akash Deep made it work, making full use of the new ball. In the first innings, they reduced England to 25 for three in 7.1 overs and then 84 for five in 21.4 before cleaning up the tail with the second new ball, wrapping up the innings for just 20 more runs. In the second innings, England was again struggling at 50 for three and 83 for five.
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The defining moment in the tournament came when Akash took Joe Root wicket with a delivery that straightened and shattered his off-stump. The wicket captain Shubman Gill termed it as match turning point.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel praised Akash’s attacking approach and Siraj’s relentless efforts. He further highlighted their significant contributions to the team and leading it to victory.
