IND vs ENG 2nd Test: A Daunting Task for Shubman Gill, A Litmus Test for Gautam Gambhir - Can India overcome the Edgbaston Hoodoo?

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Eight Test, No Wins! A pretty bleak piece of stat if you are an India fan, but this is the reality for the Indian team at Edgbaston over the years in Test cricket.

In the long and rich history of red ball cricket between these two nations, the visitors have never been able to beat the English counterparts at Birmingham's Edgbaston.

Although the bustling Midlands is a daunting host for India, Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir will have to navigate an antidote to their current Test cricket horror show. India has been abysmal in Tests over the last few months. Since Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach, they have just won a single Test, losing 7 in the 11 Test matches.

Despite India's brilliance in the majority of the Headingley Test, they still find themselves trailing 0-1 in this five-match Test series. Shubman Gill led India in his very first Test, only to be labelled as the first captain to lose a Test match despite five centuries.

A Daunting Task for Shubman Gill

And the job doesn't get easier for them at all. Amid the eve of 2nd Test, India are dwelling over Jasprit Bumrah's fitness. The Indian speedster has been tipped not to play in the 2nd Test due to his workload management, which further complicates the peace artillery for Shubman Gill. Apart from that, the lower middle order issue and the proper combination will be another massive factor for the Indian team, if they are to grind out a result and restore parity in the series.

The tactical battle will be crucial and captain Gill will have to ensure that his teammates live up to the expectations. The catch misses, the lower-middle order failure, all contributed to India's defeat in the first match, and they can't repeat that again.

A Litmus Test for Gautam Gambhir

The clock is perhaps ticking for Gautam Gambhir, a lot more alarmingly than Shubman Gill. With just one win in 11 matches in Tests, Gambhir's role as the Red Ball professor is in jeopardy and may completely derail if India suffer a defeat in Birmingham. Not only it would put India in a massively compromised position in the series, it will be a big blow to their WTC points and aspirations as well. Gambhir's Champions Trophy win has been long forgotten, and the judgement, at least in the longer format role, will be solely based on this series. Hence, a positive result for India is paramount for Gambhir as well.

Can India climb the Edgbaston Mountain?

There's always a first. India's Test annals on English soil have often scripted the unexpected, glorious chapters. If the Indian team can rectify their mistakes, they can definitely put a strong bid to level the series. It will be a daunting challenge for sure, but not impossible. Jasprit Bumrah remains a big factor again. If he plays, India will be in a much better position.