What was the result of India’s last Test at Edgbaston?

Prior to the current five-match series, India last played England in Edgbaston in July 2022. It was the final Test of the five-match series. A COVID epidemic in the Indian camp in 2021 prompted the fifth and final game of the series to be played in 2022. The tourists lost the fifth Test by seven wickets, missing out on the potential to win a Test series in England.

Choosing to field first, England was able to send five Indian hitters back to the shed with the team score under 100. However, Rishabh Pant’s magnificent 146 off 111 and Ravindra Jadeja’s tenacious 104 off 194 enabled the visitors to achieve a 400-plus score in the first innings. The innings is also noted for Jasprit Bumrah’s remarkable batting performance, when he hit four fours and two sixes in a 35-run over off Stuart Broad. James Anderson (5/60 in 21.5 overs) had a five-wicket haul.

By the end of their first innings, the hosts had conceded a big 132-run advantage to India, with England’s scorecard showing little more than Jonny Bairstow’s 140-ball 106. Mohammed Siraj was the Indian team’s top bowler. Despite being relatively pricey in comparison to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, his four-wicket total in 11.3 overs was fairly outstanding.

India struggled to get going in their second innings, and were bowled out for 245 in 81.5 overs.

Cheteshwar Pujara led the way with 66 runs after scoring only 13 in the first innings. Pant once again saved the middle order with a 57-run knock. Ben Stokes, who had established himself as the third-change bowler, was the star performer, taking four wickets for 33 runs in 11.5 overs. The bowling department put up a well-rounded performance.

The hosts began their innings with a bang, with openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley cruising to centuries before England lost three wickets in 15 deliveries, with Bumrah striking twice. However, a magnificent, undefeated 269-run partnership between Joe Root (142* off 173) and Bairstow (114* off 145) helped the hosts achieve a record chase. England has never successfully chased a higher total in Test history.