Day 5 of the India vs England Test at Edgbaston promises a thrilling finish, but rain could impact India’s push for a historic victory.
India Dominates With Bat
India has staged a remarkable comeback in the Test match after losing the series opener. Under captain Shubman Gill, the visitors displayed exceptional batting prowess.
Gill himself was outstanding, smashing 269 and 161 in his two innings. This made him the first batter in Test history to score a 250 and a 150 in the same match.
The team’s combined effort led to India aggregating over 1000 runs across both innings, a first in their 591 Test matches. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul also contributed centuries, making it India’s highest number of centuries in a single Test.
A Mountain to Climb for England
India’s formidable batting set England a mammoth target of 608 runs. This presents a huge challenge for Ben Stokes’ side, testing their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach.
Historically, chasing such a high target on the final day of a Test is incredibly rare. Only once, 77 years ago by Don Bradman’s ‘Invincibles’ in 1948, has a team successfully chased over 350 runs on the last day.
Rain Threat Looms on Day 5
The biggest wildcard for the final day is the weather. According to the UK Met Office, Birmingham could experience wet conditions, especially in the first half of the day.
There’s a 50-30 percent chance of rain between 10 AM and 2 PM local time. The forecast predicts “Heavy rain changing to overcast by lunchtime.” However, chances of rain drop significantly to below 10 percent after 3 PM.
Edgbaston Weather Forecast (UK Local Time)
- 9 AM: 70% chance of rain, 16°C
- 10 AM: 50% chance of rain, 16°C
- 11 AM: 40% chance of rain, 16°C
- 12 PM: 30% chance of rain, 17°C
- 1 PM: 30% chance of rain, 18°C
- 2 PM: 30% chance of rain, 18°C
- 3 PM: 10% chance of rain, 18°C
- 4 PM onwards: Less than 5% chance of rain, 18°C
India Chasing History
India needs to pick up seven more wickets to secure a victory. A win at Edgbaston would be historic, marking their first at the venue and leveling the series 1-1 before the next Test at Lord’s.
This match also kickstarts India’s new ICC World Test Championship cycle. A win would provide a strong start to their campaign.
- Shubman Gill made history with scores of 269 and 161 in the same Test.
- India set England a massive 608-run target.
- Rain is forecast for the first half of Day 5, potentially hindering India’s chase for wickets.
- India is aiming for a historic first win at Edgbaston to level the series.
The stage is set for a gripping conclusion, with weather likely to play a crucial role in deciding the fate of this high-stakes encounter.
