2nd Test Preview as India seek to level the series at Birmingham, a venue where India have had bitter memories.
We look at the 2nd Test Preview as England look to build on their 1-0 lead in Edgbaston.
In their last nine Test matches, India has only won one. To locate a nine-test series this bare, you’ll need to go back ten years. India failed to win any of their nine Test matches between Southampton in 2014 and Galle in 2015.
It was a time of transition. This one is, too. In both games, India was unable to take advantage of strong or even commanding positions. At the end of the 2014–15 series, India lost a match in Galle that seemed insurmountable. The defeat of an apparently insurmountable Test at Headingley last week was the ninth Test in the current series.
However, when we reflect about 2014–15 ten years later, we are aware of what transpired. We know that India started their most successful decade in Test cricket by defeating Sri Lanka 2-1 after rallying from a 1-0 deficit.
We’re living through 2024 and looking ahead to 2025. The story’s future chapter is unknown to us.
That chapter will start in Edgbaston, whatever it is. In eight previous efforts, India has never triumphed here. Three years ago, they appeared to be on the verge of winning the series 3-1, but Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow’s hundreds in the fourth inning helped England win in a thrilling fashion.
India has no influence over the Dukes ball’s construction, the pitch, or the weather at Edgbaston. However, they do have some degree of control over their selection. It remains to be seen whether they would select Kuldeep Yadav, the other elite wicket-taker in their squad, and whether they will include Jasprit Bumrah, who is only anticipated to feature in two of the final four Test matches.
After falling behind 1-0 against Bazball at home, India turned things around thanks in large part to the inclusion of Kuldeep, who came at the expense of an all-rounder. They ignored everything else and had England try their strategy against the top bowling combination in India.
Much of India’s success following that fruitless nine-Test run in 2014–15 was based on the same kind of thinking. What mindset would India of 2025 adopt following a similar sequence of results?