"Where's my favourite...": Shubman Gill takes dig at reporter after historic Edgbaston win

England captain Ben Stokes was quite confident to keep his nation's unbeaten record against India at Edgbaston intact, but Shubman Gill's men rose to the occasion and gave a stellar performance.

Before this game, India had never won at Edgbaston in nine attempts, with seven losses and one draw. They were up against long odds and a challenging history. But Gill's incredible batting—he scored a double century and a century—along with a fantastic bowling performance from Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, helped India dramatically change that story.

Shubman Gill's playful jab at the media interaction wasn't just for show, it was his confidence on his team members.

Reflecting on the team's stellar performance and the confidence he had expressed even before the match, Gill reiterated, “I even said before the Test match that I don't really believe in history and stats. Over the last 56 years or so, different teams have come here. I believe we are the best Indian team to come here, and we have the capability to win.”

With Jasprit Bumrah rested, many questioned India's ability to take 20 wickets. However, Akash Deep silenced the critics with an impressive 10-wicket haul, ably supported by Mohammed Siraj's seven wickets, earning high praise from their captain.

Gill also pointed to Akash Deep's fiery spell on Day 4, as he dismissed England batters Ben Duckett and Joe Root.

"Yesterday, I think, getting through the top order is never easy," Gill said. "The spell of Akash Deep, how he got those two wickets, kind of gave the confidence to everyone that we can win this Test match and when he came in this morning with the ball hitting the cracks, yes, the ball was seaming, the odd ball seaming, that's what really instilled the confidence in all of the players that, yes, we can do it," he added.

"Our bowlers were magnificent. We are capable of taking 20 wickets anywhere. The consistency from both ends Siraj, Akash, and even Prasidh helped us win the little moments," Gill explained, highlighting that the second new ball on a flat pitch was a turning point, as the harder ball facilitated wicket-taking.

Reflecting on his exceptional batting, Gill shared that his preparation for this Test series began during the latter stages of IPL 2025.

"I started working on some things during the IPL. We don’t listen to outside noise. Opinions change every game. If your teammates trust you, that's what really matters," he stated, emphasizing the team's focus on internal belief over external criticism.

This significant win propelled India to fourth place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 table, unequivocally demonstrating their depth and unwavering determination. While the press conference may have begun with a lighthearted joke, Gill's underlying message was clear: this Indian team trusts in its own abilities, not in past records or outside expectations.

With the series now tied at 1-1 and momentum firmly in India's favour, all eyes will be on how this young leader continues to guide his team through the remainder of the tour.