By V.N. Prasad

Heartiest congratulations to Team India on their very first victory at Birmingham. And, what an emphatic victory; clinching the test by 336 runs. Statistics are all loaded on the net. However, it is worth noting several salient features of/ in the second test.

1. Belief in themselves to leave behind the defeat at Leeds.

2. Taking the field without Bumrah.

3. Md. Siraj and Akashdeep virtually making the statement to the country — “We are HERE. Nothing to worry.”

4. Scoring over 1,000 runs in the 2 innings; the 1st time by India.

5. Young Shubman Gill exhibiting enormous composure in handling the team with full confidence.

6. Thus, his own contributions of a brilliant double century in the 1st inning followed by a breezy hundred in the second; as if it was a child’s play; at almost 100 strike rate and laced with 8 towering sixes.

7. Extremely well supported by Jaiswal, K.L. Rahul (my favourite), Ravindra Jadeja and the matchless entertainer —Rishab Pant. He outclassed Rohan Kanhai in his pyrotechnics.

8. Eventually proving Michael Vaughan wrong in his statement — “Without Rohit, Virat & (Bumrah); NO CHANCE.”

9. AND, that is Self-Belief.

10. Imagine our seamers Md. Siraj and young Akashdeep sharing 17 wickets of the test. Magnificent indeed.

Now, this is what is called — RESURGENCE. With all these, our selectors have a few issues on hand before we proceed to the Lord’s; the Mecca of cricket.

1. Both Karun Nair and Nithish Kumar Reddy were disappointing. Should Sai Sudarshan be afforded another chance.

2. Prasidh Krishna looked a lot short than a pacer of international quality.

3. Should Kuldeep Yadav be brought in? I feel that a spinner like him can never be kept out. Sorry. It was utter lack of cricketing brains on our selectors.

Well, all in all, our boys take the remaining three tests with a lot of caution and without complacence of our victory in the 2nd.

Lastly, I have to admire those absolutely brilliant centuries by Harry Brook and Jamie Smith in the first inning. Especially, J. Smith. What a straight bat the young keeper Smith is. I applaud both, in real spirit of the great test cricket. But for them, this test should have been over before it rained on the 5th day.

So, boys, Best to you at the Lord’s. We keenly await yet another exhibition of class.