The second Test match for England vs India begins on Thursday at Edgbaston and the hosts are comfortable 2/5 favourites to follow up their thrilling first Test win with the tourists 23/10 underdogs to level the series.
Such an assessment may come to look a little lopsided if the Indian Gautam Gambhir’s last minute decision on whether to field star bowler Jasprit Bumrah is resolved in the affirmative and our best bets examine other roads to value.
England vs India: Former skipper good top batsmen bet back in Birmingham
Joe Root’s Egbaston record in Tests makes him a great bet to top score for England in this match at 16/5, averaging 102 runs a match from his nine long-form outings in the second city across the last 10 years – best of any Englishman to play there more than once in that period.
Root’s most recent Tests at the ground have been his most productive too, with salvos of 173 against India in 2022, 164 versus Australia in 2023 and an 87 against the Windies last summer that could have been more had he been required to bat in the second innings.
A solid 53 not out to get England over the line at Headingley should have the 34-year-old spot on to enhance his enviable record at the ground.
Joe Root - Top England batter
@ 16/5
England vs India: Tourists’ gloveman a generous top batter bet at the prices
Edgbaston pedigree is also a strong influence on our top Indian batter bet, where Rishab Pant looks to have been underestimated even as 4/1 co-second-favourite.
The vice-captain out-batted all comers in the series opener, plundering centuries in both innings for a total of 252 runs.
He should prove equally at home in Birmingham, having helped himself to 203 runs on his last Test visit to the track in 2022 – including a first innings 146.
Rishab Pant - Top Indian batter
@ 4/1
England vs India: Take on first innings lead favourites with odds too skewed
England are just 8/15 in the ‘Team To Lead after First innings’ market, but those odds are well worth taking on despite the hosts substantial match betting favouritism – 13/10 outsiders India ‘won’ the first innings in the first test of this series after all.
India to lead after first innings
@ 13/10
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