The Indian cricket team is gearing up for the crucial second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, commencing on July 3, 2025. Following a disappointing defeat in the first Test at Headingley, the team is expected to make significant changes to their playing XI in an attempt to level the five-match series.
One of the most notable changes is likely to be the resting of Jasprit Bumrah, India's pace spearhead, to manage his workload. Bumrah bowled a marathon 43.4 overs in the first Test, and the team management is keen to keep him fresh for the remainder of the series, especially with the third Test at Lord's looming. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted at Bumrah's absence, stating that a decision would be taken within 24 hours. During a training session, Bumrah bowled sparingly, further suggesting that he would be rested for the upcoming match. Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, also confirmed that Bumrah was initially slated to play only three Tests in the series.
With Bumrah's likely absence, the spotlight is on who will replace him in the playing XI. Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh are the frontrunners to fill the void. Arshdeep Singh, with his left-arm pace, could provide a different dimension to the bowling attack. Akash Deep, who impressed in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, is also a strong contender. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna are likely to retain their places in the playing XI. Irfan Pathan, the former Indian all-rounder, has urged the other fast bowlers to adopt an aggressive approach in Bumrah's absence, particularly highlighting Prasidh Krishna's need to be more attacking.
Another significant change expected in the Indian lineup is the inclusion of a batting all-rounder. Nitish Kumar Reddy is reportedly in strong contention to make his Test debut, potentially replacing Shardul Thakur. Thakur's performance in the first Test was underwhelming, leading the team management to consider a change in the team combination. Ten Doeschate described Reddy as a "premium batting all-rounder" and indicated a "very good chance" of him playing in the second Test. Washington Sundar is another all-rounder who has garnered attention at the nets, bowling long spells alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
The possible inclusion of two spinners in the second Test is also being discussed. With Ravindra Jadeja already in the side, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar are the candidates for the second spinner's role. Ten Doeschate mentioned the strong possibility of playing two spinners, emphasizing that the decision would depend on the ideal combination. The Edgbaston pitch has 11mm of grass, but it is quite dry underneath, and there is a forecast of rain, which adds complexity to the decision-making.
Former India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane suggested a new role for Shardul Thakur, proposing that he bowl with the new ball. Rahane believes that Thakur's ability to swing the ball could be better utilized with the new ball. However, the team management seems inclined towards strengthening the batting lineup and adding another spinner.
The Indian team's think tank, including coach Gautam Gambhir, seems to be prioritizing bolstering the batting. The team went from 430/3 to 471 all out in the first innings and 333/5 to 364 all out in the second innings in the first test. To avoid such collapses, they appear to be leaning towards including a batting all-rounder. The final decision on the playing XI will likely be made before the toss at Edgbaston, but it is evident that India is preparing to make significant changes to bounce back in the series.
