A TEST OF LEADERSHIP AND IDENTITY

India desperate for win as 2nd Test vs England begins today

- BY A.K.S SATISH Sports Editor

Shubman Gill's first match as India captain had everything history-making centuries, a sensational collapse, and too many voices in the field.

India dominated large parts of the first Test at Headingley but unravelled under pressure, handing England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. With murmurs growing louder over the team's direction under coach Gautam Gambhir and the absence of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the second Test at Edgbaston has become more than just a must-win — it’s a test of leadership and identity.

The five-wicket defeat was India’s seventh in 11 Tests under Gambhir, and the bold decision to omit Shreyas Iyer has only intensified scrutiny. Despite two commanding totals of 477 and 364 — India suffered collapses of 7-41 and 6-31 — they became the first team in more than 60,000 first-class matches to lose a match in which they scored five individual centuries. Ben Duckett’s rapid 149 led England’s chase of 371, sealing a remarkable comeback and underlining India’s struggle to finish strong.