India in Command at Edgbaston, but Must Create History to Win Birmingham Test
India find themselves in a dominant position heading into the final day of the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. With England needing a monumental 536 runs more to win and only seven wickets in hand, the odds heavily favour the visitors. However, to level the five-match series 1-1, India must achieve something they have never done before—win a Test match after setting a target of 600 or more.
India’s Historic Opportunity
India declared their second innings on Day 4 after piling on a massive 608-run target for England, thanks largely to a record-breaking batting performance by skipper Shubman Gill. Gill, who has emerged as the standout player of the match, scored a career-best 269 in the first innings and followed it up with a fiery 161 in the second, taking his match total to 430 runs.
While Gill led the charge with the bat, India’s bowlers backed it up in style. Mohammed Siraj dismantled England in the first innings with a six-wicket haul and set the tone early in the second by removing Zak Crawley for a duck. Young pacer Akash Deep, who replaced Jasprit Bumrah in this Test, made an immediate impact. He claimed four wickets in the first innings and removed key batters Ben Duckett and Joe Root in the second.
At stumps on Day 4, England were struggling at 72/3 after 16 overs, staring down the barrel with only seven wickets remaining and a mountain of runs to climb.
A Test to Rewrite the Record Books
Despite the commanding position, India must rewrite history to seal a win. The Edgbaston Test marks only the second time India have set a target of 600 or more in Test cricket. The first was in 2009, when India set New Zealand a target of 617 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. That match ended in a draw, with the hosts surviving at 281/8. Interestingly, India’s current head coach, Gautam Gambhir, was named Player of the Match in that Test for his gritty 167 in the second innings.
Historically, India have fared well when defending massive targets between 500 and 600, winning nine out of 10 such matches. However, they have never managed to convert a 600+ target into a victory. Breaking that barrier at Edgbaston would be a first, and doing so in English conditions would make the win even more special.
England’s Struggles with Mammoth Targets
The silver lining for India lies in England’s poor track record when chasing targets over 600. Out of the 10 instances when England have faced such daunting chases in Test history, they’ve lost nine times and salvaged a draw only once.
That lone draw came in 1939, when England held on against South Africa in the famous “Timeless Test” at Kingsmead, Durban, while chasing 696. Since then, they have failed repeatedly in similar pursuits, including twice on home soil. The most notable was in 1934, when England lost to Australia while chasing 708 at The Oval, and again in 1950, when they failed to chase 601 against the West Indies at Lord’s.
Here are the 10 instances of England chasing targets over 600:
- 708 vs Australia, The Oval, Aug 1934 – Lost
- 696 vs South Africa, Durban, Mar 1939 – Draw
- 689 vs Australia, Melbourne, Jan 1937 – Lost
- 659 vs Australia, Sydney, Dec 1920 – Lost
- 658 vs New Zealand, Hamilton, Dec 2024 – Lost
- 648 vs Australia, Brisbane, Nov 2006 – Lost
- 628 vs West Indies, Bridgetown, Jan 2019 – Lost
- 617 vs West Indies, Georgetown, Feb 1930 – Lost
- 605 vs Australia, Sydney, Dec 1924 – Lost
- 601 vs West Indies, Lord’s, Jun 1950 – Lost
England’s most recent 600+ chase came just months ago in December 2024, when they failed to chase 658 against New Zealand in Hamilton. That match ended in defeat and further solidified their struggles with high fourth-innings targets.
Can India Seal the Win?
The momentum is firmly with India, but cricket is a game of uncertainties. With weather holding up and the pitch still offering some assistance to bowlers, India’s attack led by Siraj and Akash Deep will look to make early inroads on Day 5. The experienced spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin will also be crucial, especially as the pitch deteriorates.
India’s primary goal will be to strike early and break any potential partnerships before England can find their footing. If they succeed, it will not only level the series but also mark a historic moment—India’s first-ever Test win while defending a 600+ total.
With the Test series poised on a knife’s edge, Day 5 at Edgbaston promises drama, intensity, and the possibility of history in the making.
IT.
