ENG vs IND, 2nd Test: Under-pressure India looks to bounce back against confident England

Wins accumulate. Losses multiply. Gautam Gambhir knows this all too well. Appointed as the India head coach just under a year ago, he has presided over just three wins from 11 Test matches. Losses, he has seen seven, with the most crushing coming last week in Leeds when England chased 371 fourth-innings runs with ease.

Gambhir has had an extended honeymoon largely because of his white-ball exploits, chief among them the Champions Trophy victory earlier this year. But goodwill isn’t eternal, and thus, recovering from the 0-1 deficit in the five-match series will be prime on the agenda when India takes on England in the second Test at Edgbaston here from Wednesday.

The kerfuffle over the composition of the bowling attack in the potential absence of Jasprit Bumrah has only made matters tougher. Apart from speedster Mohammed Siraj – who was luckless in first Test – and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja – who offered control but not wicket-taking threat – no one appears to be an automatic pick.

Perhaps, this was always on the cards. With Mohammed Shami unavailable and Bumrah unable to play for extended stretches, the largely inexperienced pace-bowling pack has to learn on the job. And if the pitch here turns out to be as flat and dry as the one in Headingley, and the weather mostly warm as predicted, bowlers will need to display more imagination and guile than in the opening contest.

Shubman Gill’s role here will be crucial. In Leeds, the skipper largely relied on four bowlers and under-bowled – or did not trust – Shardul Thakur. It is doubtful if the Mumbai all-rounder will keep his place as India looks to balance the twin requirements of taking 20 wickets and extending its batting depth. Even as the top and middle-order batters came good, they will continue to carry the burden of scoring big runs to give its floundering bowlers some elbow room.

Also read | Edgbaston pitch report, ground conditions; India win/loss record at Birmingham

But England in the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum era rarely buckles under scoreboard pressure. The fact that Stokes chose to field in the series opener, saw India rake up 471 in the first essay and still inspired his wards to pull off a stunning fourth-innings heist means the host will start from a position of great strength.

The vibes around the bowling group have improved manifold, with Stokes back to full intensity, and Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse performing well (11 wickets combined in Headingley). A fit Jofra Archer will sit out of the Birmingham Test but his mere presence in the dressing room is sure to further enliven the atmosphere.

England also has a proud record against India at Edgbaston having won seven of the eight fixtures and drawn the other. The most recent was the final tie of the 2021-22 series in July 2022 wherein Stokes’ England, in true Bazball style, mowed down a 378-run fourth innings target with seven wickets to spare.

Gill said that history would not matter and that the present touring party was the “best Indian team.” It is finally time to walk the talk.