The India vs. England second Test match at Edgbaston is hanging in the balance as Day 5 dawns with a significant threat of rain. India is in a commanding position, needing just seven wickets to secure a series-leveling victory, but the weather could play spoilsport, potentially denying them a historic first Test win at Edgbaston in 58 years.
Shubman Gill's spectacular performance with the bat has been the cornerstone of India's dominance in this Test. He became the first batter in Test history to score a 250 and a 150 in the same match, accumulating a total of 430 runs. This feat puts him second only to Graham Gooch's 456 runs in a single Test. Gill's 267 in the first innings and 161 in the second have put England under immense pressure. Contributions from Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul further solidified India's commanding position, allowing them to declare their second innings at 427/6, setting England a daunting target of 608 runs.
England's chase began disastrously, with Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep striking early blows. Siraj dismissed Zak Crawley for a duck, while Akash Deep removed Ben Duckett and Joe Root. England ended Day 4 at 72/3, requiring a further 536 runs to win.
The weather forecast for Day 5 predicts rain, particularly in the morning. According to the UK Met Office, there's a 50% to 30% chance of rain between 10 am and 2 pm local time (7:30 pm IST). While heavy rain is expected to give way to overcast skies by lunchtime, the probability of showers remains below 10% after 3 pm. Other sources indicate that rain is likely to continue until around 11 AM local time, potentially delaying the start of play.
If the weather clears as expected by late morning, the ground staff will need time to dry the outfield, potentially pushing the restart to post-lunch, around 1 PM local time. However, play can be extended until 7:30 PM local time (12 AM IST) to compensate for any delays.
The overcast conditions and lingering moisture could favor seam bowlers, potentially assisting India's attack. However, the weather could also provide England with their best chance to escape defeat.
As it stands, India needs seven wickets to clinch their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston, ending a 58-year wait. England, on the other hand, needs a further 536 runs to win the Test match. The highest successful chase in Test history is 418 by the West Indies in 2003, while England's best is 378 against India at Edgbaston in 2022.
The second Test at Edgbaston is set for a gripping final day, with India close to a historic victory. However, the weather remains a significant factor, potentially influencing the outcome of the match.
