England vs India, 2018: 5 humiliating records that India created in the 1st Test

Have you ever seen a pendulum oscillate? Well, the first Test between England and India was much like a pendulum that oscillated infinite times before Ben Stokes managed to catch Virat Kohli off guard for an LBW.

The wicket of Virat Kohli in the second innings turned out to be the decisive moment in the match as right after the wicket India's innings plummeted as they were bundled out for 162.

India lost the match by a meagre margin of 31 runs, a margin that put India in a pool of unwanted records. Thus, in this feature, we will look at five unwanted records that India created in the first Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

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#5 Narrowest defeat for India by runs in England

England v India: Specsavers 1st Test - Day Four

Unequivocally, it was that type of test match that could have gone either way until the last wicket fell. With a target of 194 to be chased on a pitch where batsmen were falling like nine pins, it was never going to be easy for India especially with the kind of bowling line-up that England possessed.

Much according to the script, the English bowlers made the Indian batsmen work their socks off for each and every run with unerring accuracy. Eventually, England held their nerves and managed to win a thriller which frankly, could have gone either way.

The loss turned out to be India's narrowest defeat (runs) in their entire history of Test cricket in England. India lost the match by a mere 31 runs which also turned out be their fourth narrowest defeat (runs) in the entire history of Test cricket.

Narrowest defeats (runs) for India in Test cricket:

12 v Pakistan, Chennai, 1999

16 v Pakistan, Bengaluru, 1987

16 v Australia, Brisbane, 1977

31 vs England, Edgbaston, 2018

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#4 The lowest target that India failed to chase in England

Ben Stokes ran havoc on the Indian batting line-up

Having restricted England to a lead of 193 runs in the 2nd innings, India did a great job and were determined to win the 1st Test match. However, owing to some fantastic bowling performance from the Englishmen, India failed to achieve the target despite Kohli's gritty fifty. Well, no contribution from the rest of the Indian batting line-up helped the cause for England.

Thanks to Ben Stokes' early strikes on the fourth day, India failed to chase down a small target of 194 and handed a sweet victory to the Englishmen. This actually created an unwanted record for the Indian team of having failed to chase down the lowest ever total on Engish soil and their 3rd lowest overall.

Lowest targets failed to chase down by India in Tests:

120 vs West Indies, Bridgetown, 1997

176 vs Srilanka, Galle, 2015

194 vs England, Edgbaston, 2018

208 vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2018

#3 Highest percentage contribution by a batsman in a Test match for India (all 20 wickets)

Kohli silenced his critics in an emphatic manner

Undoubtedly, one of the best performances by an Indian batsman on foreign soil, Kohli almost single-handedly dragged India towards a famous victory. Without adequate support at the other end, this proved to be a bridge too far to conquer for unarguably the greatest batsman of this generation.

Having scored 200 runs out of India's total of 436 in the two innings, Virat Kohli (45.87 %) almost scored half of the team's total runs, such was his determination. To put that into context, the next best was 12.16% by Hardik Pandya who scored a total of 53 runs in the match.

This created an unwanted record where his 200 runs in the match turned out to be the highest percentage of contribution by an Indian batsman.

Highest percentage contribution by a batsman in a Test for India:

45.87 Virat Kohli (200/436) v England, Edgbaston, 2018

43.71 S Gavaskar (344/787) v WI, Port of Spain, 1971

42.34 VVS Laxman (174/411) v Aus, SCG, 2000

41.97 V Sehwag (251/598) v SL, Galle, 2008

#2 Most number of losses for an Asian team at Edgbaston

India won't have any fond memories of Edgbaston

Edgbaston doesn't seem to be a happy hunting ground for India as the loss against England happened to be India's sixth straight loss at the venue. Having lost six Test matches at Edgbaston, India has now become the only Asian team to have a lost as many as six Tests at the venue, with Pakistan just behind India with five losses.

In fact, India has just drawn one match at Edgbaston which came precisely 32 years ago and has become a haunted place for the visiting Indian cricket team.

Most losses for an Asian team at Edgbaston in Tests:

6 - India

5 - Pakistan

2 - Sri Lanka

#1 Most consecutive Tests at a venue without a win for Asian teams

With 17 tests without a victory, Edgbaston has become a grave for the Asian teams

With India's loss at Edgbaston, the venue now accounts for the most consecutive Test matches (17) for the Asian teams without a win. None of the Asian teams has won a Test match at Edgbaston since 1962.

A draw has been the best outcome at this venue with Pakistan (3) and India (1), providing the only instances where an Asian team has avoided a loss.

Most consecutive Tests at a venue without a win for Asian teams:

17- Edgbaston, England (1962-present)

16 - Lord's, England (1932-82)

16 - Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, West Indies (1953-17)

14 - MCG, Australia (1983 -17)