Edgbaston, a ground steeped in cricketing lore, holds a peculiar, often challenging, history for the Indian Test team. Despite its venerable status, India has graced this iconic Birmingham venue only eight times in Test cricket, with the upcoming second Test of the newly christened Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy marking their ninth appearance and fourth this century. India’s record at Edgbaston remains a blank slate in the win column, their best result being a hard-fought draw way back in July 1986. Following a bruising five-wicket loss at Headingley, Shubman Gill and his squad face a daunting task, aiming not just for a series equalizer but also to rewrite a significant chapter of their Edgbaston narrative.
The three Tests India has played at Edgbaston in the 21st century have been nothing short of dramatic, etching themselves into the collective memory of fans. From soul-crushing defeats to individual brilliance that almost swung the tide, these matches encapsulate the fluctuating fortunes of Indian cricket on English soil. Let’s revisit these compelling encounters that define India’s modern history at Edgbaston.
The 2011 Edgbaston Debacle: A World Cup Hangover
India arrived in England in 2011 riding the crest of a wave, having clinched the ICC Cricket World Cup earlier that year. However, the euphoria quickly evaporated. By the time MS Dhoni’s formidable side reached Edgbaston for the third Test, they were already reeling from a 196-run defeat in the first Test and a crushing 319-run loss in the second. Hopes for a turnaround were slender, and they dwindled further when India, batting first, crumbled for a mere 224, with only Dhoni’s determined 77 off 96 balls offering a semblance of resistance.
What followed was an innings etched in English cricketing history. England’s stalwart opener, Alastair Cook, who had endured a lean patch in the preceding matches, delivered a masterclass. He batted for an astonishing 90-plus overs, grinding out an epic 294 runs, a career-best, missing a triple-century by a whisker. England declared at a mammoth 710/7 after consuming 188.1 overs, putting the match beyond India’s reach. Despite another fighting unbeaten 74 from MS Dhoni in the second innings, India capitulated, losing by an innings and 242 runs. The post-match press conference, featuring a pointed exchange between Mike Atherton and Dhoni, became almost as memorable as the match itself, symbolizing India’s humbling descent.
2018: Virat Kohli’s Lone Battle Against England’s Grit
The 2018 Edgbaston Test felt like a missed opportunity, a match India, in hindsight, perhaps should have won. It was a fiercely contested affair that ultimately hinged on the all-round brilliance of England’s Sam Curran and Ben Stokes. However, this Test is primarily remembered for an individual tour de force that ignited Virat Kohli’s legendary series.
After England were bowled out for 287, thanks to Ravichandran Ashwin’s four-wicket haul, India found themselves in precarious territory. With the score at a shaky 13, and only four wickets remaining, it seemed India might concede a significant lead. Yet, Virat Kohli, then India’s captain, launched into one of his most iconic Test innings. He masterfully farmed the strike with the tailenders, guiding them through difficult periods and ultimately smashing an unforgettable 149 runs off 225 balls. His innings single-handedly propelled India to 274, narrowing England’s lead to just 13 runs.
Ishant Sharma then responded with a superb five-wicket haul, helping India dismiss England for 180, setting a chaseable target of 194. But destiny had other plans. Despite Kohli’s valiant second-innings fifty, Ben Stokes delivered a match-winning spell of 4/40, orchestrating India’s collapse for 162. England clinched a thrilling 31-run victory, but the match firmly established Kohli’s defiance and his determination to conquer English conditions.
2022: The Unforeseen “Bazball” Blizzard
The fifth Test of the 2021 series, originally scheduled for Old Trafford, was postponed due to Covid-related issues and finally played in July 2022. This rescheduling brought India face-to-face with an entirely new, uber-aggressive England under the transformative leadership of captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum – the “Bazball” era had begun. There’s a strong argument that had the match proceeded as planned, India might have secured a rare Test series victory on English soil. But 2022 was a different beast.
India initially seemed to embrace the high-octane approach. Batting first, they amassed a formidable 416, largely powered by explosive centuries from Rishabh Pant (146 off 111 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (104 off 194 balls), who shared a breathtaking 222-run partnership off just 239 deliveries. Jasprit Bumrah, captaining India for the first time in Test cricket, then created a bizarre record by smashing 35 runs off a single Stuart Broad over, surpassing Brian Lara’s long-standing record for most runs in an over.
India even secured a healthy 132-run first-innings lead after dismissing England for 284, eventually setting a challenging target of 378 for the hosts. No team had ever chased such a high target against India in Test cricket, let alone 378. However, the full force of “Bazball” descended. Joe Root (142* off 173 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (114* off 145 balls) launched an audacious assault, carving an unbeaten 269-run partnership off just 316 balls. They tore through India’s bowling attack with fearless hitting, reaching the target with seven wickets to spare. It was a seismic victory that not only levelled the series but also cemented “Bazball” as a formidable, game-changing force in Test cricket.
