As the five-match Test series between India and England moves into its second leg, all eyes are on Edgbaston, Birmingham, where the match begins on July 2. In 58 years of playing Test cricket at this storied English venue, India has never managed a single win. The venue remains a fortress where Indian victories have been elusive, even under the leadership of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Now, a new captain, Shubman Gill, shoulders the challenge of scripting a different chapter. The Test at Edgbaston is crucial for India, who trail 0-1 in the series. A defeat here would put them at a significant disadvantage, while a victory could swing the momentum back in their favour. Yet, Gill and his team will have to overcome not just England but also decades of disappointment at this ground. India’s first Test appearance at Edgbaston dates back to 1967. Since then, the team has played 8 Tests here, losing 7 and drawing just one. The ground has seen India collapse for a paltry 92 – their lowest score here – during that debut match, which England won by 132 runs. In 2011, India was crushed again as Alastair Cook’s mammoth 294 propelled England to a 242-run victory, after they posted a towering 710/7, the highest-ever Test total at this ground. Even in more recent times, the narrative hasn’t changed. In 2022, India set England a target of 378, only to watch the hosts chase it down with ease in just 76.4 overs, losing only three wickets. The pitch has rarely been kind to Indian batsmen. Across 16 innings at Edgbaston, India has managed to cross the 300-run mark only twice. The broader picture in England isn’t too comforting either. India has played 169 international matches across formats in England, winning just 9 Tests, 45 ODIs, and 6 T20Is. In the Test format alone, India has lost 14 series on English soil, with only 3 series wins and 2 draws. The team’s overall Test win percentage in England remains a modest 13%. Curiously, while Edgbaston has been a nightmare in Tests, it’s been quite the opposite in ODIs. India has won 8 out of 12 ODIs here, underlining the stark contrast between formats at the same venue. The upcoming matches will test India’s mettle not just statistically, but psychologically. The third Test is scheduled for Lord’s from July 10 to 14, followed by the fourth at Old Trafford, Manchester from July 23 to 27. The fifth and final Test will be played at The Oval from July 31 to August 4.