As the sun rose over Edgbaston on Sunday, July 6, 2025, cricket fans around the world held their breath. The second Test between India and England had reached a dramatic climax, with India just seven wickets away from securing a historic first-ever Test victory at Edgbaston. The Indian team, led by the young and inspiring captain Shubman Gill, had put on a masterclass in batting and bowling, setting England an imposing target of 608 runs to chase. But as often is the case in English cricket, the weather threatened to play spoilsport.
India’s journey to this critical moment had been nothing short of remarkable. After losing the first Test at Headingley, the team bounced back in style. England’s decision to bowl first on a sunny and flat pitch on July 4, 2025, initially seemed like a sound call. However, Shubman Gill’s extraordinary performance with the bat turned the tide. Gill smashed 269 runs in the first innings and followed it up with 161 in the second, becoming the first batter in Test history to score a double century and a century in the same match. His 430 runs were instrumental in India amassing a staggering 1,014 runs across both innings—the first time India had crossed the 1,000-run mark in a Test match over 591 Tests.
Complementing Gill’s efforts were centuries from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul, with five centuries in the match marking a record for India in Test cricket. India declared their second innings at 427 for 6, setting England a daunting target of 608 runs to win.
England’s reply began shakily, with the visitors quickly reducing the hosts to 72 for 3 by stumps on Day 4. Key wickets included Zak Crawley, dismissed for a duck by Mohammed Siraj, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root, who fell to Akash Deep. Siraj’s six wickets across the match and Deep’s crucial breakthroughs, especially in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, underscored India’s disciplined bowling attack.
Yet, despite India’s dominant position, the looming threat was the unpredictable Birmingham weather. According to multiple forecasts from the UK Met Office, BBC Weather, and AccuWeather, heavy rain was expected to persist throughout the morning of Day 5. Rainfall chances peaked at 90% around 9 AM local time, with dark clouds and showers reported since early morning. The start of play was delayed, with the match finally set to begin around 10:30 AM local time (5:10 PM IST), after a late morning washout.
The weather was expected to improve as the day progressed, with rain chances dropping below 20% by 2 PM local time, promising a potentially exciting late afternoon and evening session. However, the initial rain meant a significant reduction in playing time, putting pressure on India to take the remaining seven wickets quickly.
Commentators and experts debated the timing of Shubman Gill’s declaration on Day 4. Some felt his conservative approach might have backfired given the weather forecast, potentially costing India valuable overs to bowl England out. NDTV’s consulting editor Boria Majumdar noted, “If it does rain for a longer period, England might just escape with a draw today.” England batsman Harry Brook had even hinted at the possibility of a draw during his banter with Gill on Day 4, aware of the weather’s potential impact.
Despite the rain, the conditions remained favorable for India’s pace attack. Temperatures hovered below 20 degrees Celsius with steady cloud cover and wind gusts up to 50 km/h, enhancing swing and seam movement. India’s bowlers, particularly Siraj and Deep, would be hoping to exploit these conditions, especially with the second new ball becoming available after 64 more overs.
The stakes were high. India sought to level the series 1-1 and start their new ICC World Test Championship cycle with a memorable win. England, on the other hand, faced the daunting task of one of the highest-ever Test chases in history. Only once before had a team successfully chased more than 350 runs on the final day to win—a feat achieved by Don Bradman’s ‘Invincibles’ in the 1948 Ashes at Leeds.
As the day unfolded, the ground staff worked tirelessly to prepare the pitch and outfield, striving to maximize playing time. The rain interruptions meant every over lost was a step closer to a draw for England and a missed opportunity for India. Yet, cricket’s unpredictability remained at the forefront—England’s resilience, highlighted by a remarkable 300-run partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith in the first innings, reminded everyone that comebacks were always possible.
Ultimately, the final session promised to be a thrilling test of skill, stamina, and nerves. India’s bowlers, backed by a passionate fan base, sought to script history by dismantling England’s batting lineup. The weather, ever the wildcard, would decide whether this Test would conclude in a historic Indian victory or an England escape.
As play progressed, cricket lovers remained glued to their screens, witnessing a gripping contest shaped as much by the players' prowess as by the capricious English weather. The story at Edgbaston was far from over, but one thing was clear: Shubman Gill and his team had delivered a performance for the ages, and the final day promised to be a memorable chapter in cricket history.
