One of the most concerned members of the Indian team would have been captain Shubman Gill when England announced their team for the second Test match against India, which will take place at Edgbaston in Birmingham starting on July 2. Why? The answer to the question is straightforward: Jofra Archer.
After being absent from the red ball format for the last four years, the English bowler is making a strong return in Test cricket and has been selected for the Edgbaston Test.
If Archer’s first-class records are any indication, he has the potential to be the most deadly weapon in England’s arsenal at Birmingham, even though he hasn’t been particularly impressive in Test matches. Gill, more than any other Indian hitter, would need to be extremely cautious around Archer because the Barbados native has the Indian captain’s number in Test matches.
Against Jofra Archer, Shubman Gill In tests, head-to-head
In 2021, while on his first England trip, Archer got rid of Gill twice in three innings, allowing him to score just eighteen runs. In Test matches against Archer, Gill averages 9.
Against Jofra Archer, Shubman Gill T20s Head-to-Head
Not only in Test matches, but even in Twenty20 cricket, Archer has defeated Gill, dismissing him in three of their six head-to-head encounters. In the shortest format, Archer has amassed 16 runs at an incredible 5.3 average against Gill.
Against Jofra Archer, Shubman Gill Overall Head-to-Head
In their ten meetings together, Archer has removed Gill in five innings while he has only conceded 53 runs at an average of 10.6. Gill was only able to score two runs off three in the IPL 2025 match earlier this year when Archer got rid of him.
However, Archer has yet to play in a Test match, much less a first-class match, at Edgbaston. Gill, meanwhile, has a poor record here as well, managing just 21 runs in two innings.
Therefore, if Archer is included in the England XI, the match between him and Gill will be exciting to watch.
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