India’s men’s cricket team will play their second Test of the five-match series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham, where they have yet to secure a win.
India trail 0-1 in the series, with the second Test match beginning on Wednesday.
Indian fans and players are wary of their record at Edgbaston, where they have not won a match. Of the eight matches played, India has lost seven and drawn one.
What is India’s Record At Edgbaston?
In their previous match at Edgbaston in July 2022, which was the rescheduled fifth Test of the 2021 series, India, under stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, looked strong until the fourth innings. Centuries from Rishabh Pant (146) and Ravindra Jadeja (104) took India to 416 from a precarious position of 98/5. With their pacers performing well, a defeat seemed likely for England as they slipped to 109/3 while chasing 378 runs, despite a century partnership between openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley. However, centuries from Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root left India searching for answers, as the hosts pulled off their highest-ever run chase in Tests. This showcased the effectiveness of their ‘Bazball’ approach under skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, resulting in a 2-2 series draw.
During the 2018 tour, the spotlight was on Virat Kohli, who sought to redeem himself after past struggles in England. Criticised for his ability against the moving deliveries of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, Kohli scored his first Test century in England, a brilliant 149, made mostly with the tail-enders. His passionate celebration marked a triumphant moment. Despite Kohli’s efforts and the outstanding performance of bowlers like Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, India could not chase down 194, being bowled out for 162. England took a 1-0 lead in the series.
The 2011 tour was particularly difficult for India. Alastair Cook’s marathon 545-ball 294 overwhelmed the Indian bowlers, leading England to declare at 710/7, the highest Test total at Edgbaston. India suffered a crushing loss by an innings and 242 runs, and by then, had lost the series.
Sachin Tendulkar’s classy 122 in 1996 during an eight-wicket loss, and significant defeats by 132 runs in 1967 (where India was bowled out for 92), innings & 78 runs in 1974, and innings & 83 runs in 1979 are other notable memories. The innings defeats featured double centuries from David Lloyd and David Gower in 1974 and 1979, respectively, which troubled the Indian bowlers.
When Did India Draw in Birmingham?
India’s sole draw at Edgbaston came in 1986, when both teams shook hands with India at 174/5, attempting a 236-run chase. India won the series 2-0 under Kapil Dev’s captaincy, marking their best performance in England. However, it was a missed opportunity for a complete series whitewash, an achievement yet to be accomplished by any Indian skipper.
(With inputs from ANI)