Team India’s tour of England has started exactly as expected, with the newly restructured side facing defeat in the opening Test at Leeds. Despite the loss, captain Shubman Gill’s team showed promise, raising hopes that the series would not be an easy win for England. However, India currently trails in the series and must stage a comeback in the second Test, scheduled to begin on July 2 at the historic Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. To level the series at 1-1, Team India faces a daunting challenge—winning at Edgbaston, a feat they have never accomplished in over five decades.

The Indian team’s record at Edgbaston paints a tough picture. Since their first Test on this ground in 1967, India has played eight matches here, losing seven and drawing just one in 1986. That means in 58 years, India has not managed a single victory at this iconic venue. More strikingly, India has not even avoided defeat here in the last 39 years. This long-standing record underscores how difficult Edgbaston has been for the Indian side, and how much the team will need to raise their game to rewrite this history.

In the last match at Edgbaston in July 2022, India suffered a crushing defeat when England comfortably chased down a target of 373 runs, marking the early days of England’s dominant ‘Badgeball’ era. That match was also notable for being Jasprit Bumrah’s first stint as captain. This time, Bumrah will not be part of the playing XI at Edgbaston, adding to India’s challenges.

To equalize the Test series, India must not only improve their performance but also overturn decades of unfavorable results at Edgbaston. The team will need to produce a memorable and historic performance at this venue if they want to keep their hopes alive in the series against England.