India opted to leave out Kuldeep Yadav from their playing XI for the second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, a decision that has sparked considerable discussion. Captain Shubman Gill explained the rationale behind the choice at the toss, stating that the team was "tempted" to play Kuldeep but ultimately prioritized adding depth to the batting lineup.

Gill highlighted that the decision was influenced by the performance of the lower order in the previous match. The team felt that bolstering the batting would provide more stability and resilience. Consequently, Washington Sundar, an all-rounder offering both spin and batting capabilities, was selected as the second spin-bowling option alongside Ravindra Jadeja.

This decision reflects a conservative strategy, focusing on batting depth rather than an outright attacking spin option. Gill acknowledged the difficulty of leaving out Kuldeep, the lone specialist spinner in the squad. However, the management felt that Sundar's inclusion would provide better control and balance to the team.

Furthermore, Gill addressed the workload management of Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for this Test with the third Test at Lord's in mind. The team anticipates that the Lord's pitch will offer more assistance to seam bowlers, making it a more suitable match for Bumrah's expertise. Akash Deep replaced Bumrah in the side.

The Edgbaston pitch, while appearing green on the surface, has a dry layer underneath, suggesting that spin could come into play later in the match. Despite this, the team opted for Sundar's all-round skills over Kuldeep's attacking wrist spin. This decision indicates a preference for a more controlled approach, especially considering the aggressive "Bazball" style of play adopted by the England team.

The inclusion of Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Shardul Thakur further emphasizes the focus on strengthening the batting order. Reddy, a batting all-rounder with medium-pace bowling, provides additional stability and control.

The composition of India's likely XI for the second Test includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep. This lineup reflects a blend of established batsmen, all-rounders, and a pace attack led by Mohammed Siraj.

While Edgbaston is statistically a favorable ground for visiting spinners in the 21st century, the decision to exclude Kuldeep highlights the team management's concerns about the batting order's fragility and the need for greater depth.