India faces a challenging task in the upcoming second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting on July 2, 2025. The team's historical record at this venue is a significant concern, as they have never won a Test match there. In eight games played at Edgbaston, India has lost seven and drawn one. Their struggles at Edgbaston extend to other venues in England as well.
India's highest innings total at Edgbaston is 416, scored in 2022 against England. In that match, Rishabh Pant (146) and Ravindra Jadeja (104) scored centuries, but India still lost by 7 wickets. India has crossed the 300-run mark only twice in 16 innings at Edgbaston. Their lowest score is 92, which occurred in their first Test at the ground. India's sole draw at Edgbaston came in 1986.
Here's a summary of India's Test results at Edgbaston:
Former India captain Virat Kohli holds the record for the most Test runs by an Indian at Edgbaston, with 231 runs in 2 matches at an average of over 57. This includes a century and a half-century. Sunil Gavaskar is second with 216 runs in 3 Tests, including three fifties. Rishabh Pant is third with 203 runs in one Test, including a century and a half-century. Sachin Tendulkar was the first Indian to score a Test century at Edgbaston, scoring 122. Ravindra Jadeja also scored a century at the ground in 2022.
Former pacer Chetan Sharma is India's leading wicket-taker in Tests at Edgbaston, with 10 wickets in one Test. He achieved his best figures of 6/58 in that match. Former spinner EAS Prasanna is second with 8 wickets in 2 matches. Ravichandran Ashwin has also taken 7 wickets at the ground. Other notable bowlers include Kapil Dev and Ishant Sharma, each with 7 wickets.
Edgbaston is known for pitches that favor fast bowlers, especially early in the match and under overcast conditions. The Dukes ball is expected to have significant lateral movement. However, the pitch tends to flatten out on Days 2 and 3, making it easier for batting. India may rest Jasprit Bumrah for workload management, potentially giving opportunities to Akash Deep or Arshdeep Singh. There is also a possibility of including Washington Sundar as a second spin option.
Despite the historical challenges, India will aim to reverse their fortunes and secure a victory at Edgbaston in the upcoming Test.
