Gill Deserves Plaudits But Akash Deep, Siraj Should Be Celebrated More For India's Turnaround

Why Akash Deep, Siraj should be rewarded [Source: AP Photo]

Team India's 'Sitara', Shubman Gill, deserves all the plaudits for a gargantuan performance in both the innings and rightly so. The India captain clobbered and butchered the English attack as the home side had no response to a brutal and calculated assault by the young India batter. There was a sense of calmness in Gill's batting, and his innings ensured that England were almost out of the contest.

The captain of the Indian team slammed 430 runs in the combined two innings and he ocupied the second spot in terms of most runs scored by a batter in a Test match. The elegant batter shattered several records but taking nothing away from the skipper, the conditions were ideal for batting and the India star utilized the conditions to his advantage.

The two bowling 'sitaras' who silenced their critics

However, if India goes on to win the Test match and breach fortress Edgbaston, then the credit should be given to India's potent bowling duo of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. Heading into this Test match, India's main concern was to replace the outgoing Jasprit Bumrah with a quality seamer, and the side had two options - Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh.

The Shubman Gill-led side went with the former as Akash Deep was picked and the rest, as they say, is history. The Bengal seamer was unplayable in the first innings as the English batters struggled with his in-swingers and had no idea where the ball was nipping around.

The same could be said about Siraj, who endured criticism for his performance in the Headingley Test match, and rightly so. The pacer looked out of sorts and leaked runs for fun as England chased down 371 with ease. But come the Edgbaston Test, and no Bumrah around, Siraj became the leader of the pact and led the bowling from front as he scalped 6 wickets in the first innings and derailed England's late momentum.

All the right things Siraj, Akash Deep did to trouble England

In India, we celebrate the batters as if they are our own kids but when it comes to celebrating bowlers, we forget their contribution and wait for them to fail. Flat Edgbaston pitch, no Bumrah to lead the attack and Prasidh Krishan, Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar as the weak links, the Indian bowling had plenty of problems heading into England's first innings.

While Prasidh Krishna leaked runs and was taken apart by the England batters, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj showed exemplary skills and made the England top order dance to their tunes. So, what did they do right which others couldn't replicate? Here's what Akash Deep said at the end of Day 2.

"Siraj and I were talking amongst each other regularly in the middle; the plan was to bowl in partnerships and not give away runs. I was attacking upfront and Siraj was holding the other end (on day two).

"I had expected the ball to seam and swing in England but on these kinds of flat wickets, you can only be disciplined about your plans," said Akash Deep after stumps.

In flat wickets, it is important for the bowlers to be impeccable at their lines and lengths and both the Indian seamers did just that, waiting patiently and making the ball talk, rather than overdoing things.

Self-believe, the key to success for Siraj

"I love responsibility, I love the challenge." These were the words of Siraj when asked how he feels about leading the Indian attack in Bumrah's absence.

The pacer has cut a polarising figure after a disastrous tour of Australia, and we all know how his downfall began after that tour, until the Edgbaston Test match, where his immense self-belief was the reason for a stellar spell against the England team.

At Headingley, he bowled well in patches and looked a pale shadow of his former self but somehow, he wasn't getting the wickets he deserved. This is until Bumrah decides to take a rest from the second game and Siraj decides to turn into a leader.

Siraj talks about his self belief [Source: AP Photo]

Coming into the second Test match, Siraj had a proper plan for the batters. Unlike the first game where he looked wayward, the right-arm seamer's line was more or less at the stumps, constantly asking questions to the batters. His bowling strength has always been to bring the delivery back into the right-handers and he beautifully utilized it and stuck to his basics.

While the game is far from over and India still needs 7 wickets to win the contest, the duo of Akash Deep and Siraj will once again be left with the task of delivering a famous win and helping India level the series. If India manages to win, every single player should be celebrated for their contribution but the two main pacers should be at the forefront, and getting the applause they deserve.

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