India Seek Redemption at Edgbaston After 1st Test Defeat
After a disappointing loss in the first Test, the Indian cricket team is preparing for a crucial comeback in the second match of the series against England. The venue is Edgbaston, Birmingham—a ground where India’s Test record is less than inspiring, with seven losses and a single draw from eight matches. But if 2025 has taught cricket fans anything, it’s that nothing can be taken for granted. From the rollercoaster IPL season to unpredictable results in international cricket, the year has been a story of upsets and turnarounds. Could India script one more?
Big Question: Will Bumrah Play?
The biggest pre-match talking point is the availability of Jasprit Bumrah. With 29 wickets at an average of 16.75 since the start of the Australia tour, he has been India’s spearhead. His presence could tip the balance significantly, especially on a surface where fast bowlers have historically had more success than spinners.
Kuldeep or Sundar? The Spinner Conundrum
With Ravichandran Ashwin having retired from international cricket, the spotlight is finally on Kuldeep Yadav, who has often played under Ashwin’s shadow despite boasting the best strike rate (37.3) among Test spinners with 50+ wickets.
But there’s a twist. The Edgbaston pitch, dry and cracked as it may look under the UK summer sun, hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for spinners. Since 2020, spinners here have averaged a high 44.45, making the inclusion of a second spinner a risky call. Still, India are considering playing two spinners, with the likely candidates being Jadeja, Kuldeep, and Washington Sundar.
While Kuldeep offers attacking spin on good batting wickets, Gautam Gambhir’s preference for multi-utility players may favor Sundar. However, opting for Sundar ahead of Kuldeep could be seen as a defensive move rather than a bold one. With England playing ultra-aggressive Bazball cricket, India might need match-winners rather than containing options.
Batting Line-up: Minor Shuffles Possible
The openers—KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal—are expected to retain their spots, although Jaiswal’s position in the field may change due to his recent struggles in close-catching areas like gully or leg slip.
The No. 3 position could be a toss-up between Sai Sudharsan, who impressed with his composure on debut, and Karun Nair, returning after years in the wilderness despite a triple century to his name. No. 4 and 5 are locked in, but the No. 6 slot could see Ravindra Jadeja move up the order, especially after his innings was cut short by a lower-order collapse in the first Test.
Lower-middle order batting remains a concern, and the management might be tempted to bring in Nitish Reddy and Sundar for added depth and balance. However, whether that helps or hurts the bowling remains to be seen.
England Stick to Winning Formula
Meanwhile, the English camp is settled and confident. They’ve named an unchanged XI, signaling stability and trust in the Bazball philosophy. Jofra Archer’s comeback will have to wait at least one more Test.
England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Shoaib Bashir.
India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 B Sai Sudharsan/Karun Nair, 4 Shubman Gill (capt), 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 NKR, 8 Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Jasprit Bumrah/Arshdeep Singh/Akash Deep, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Prasidh Krishna.
Captain Ben Stokes has downplayed the advantage of being 1-0 up, stating:
“We start at 0-0 again. Hopefully, we can put in a performance that takes us to 2-0.”
With Joe Root just 73 runs away from 3000 Test runs against India, and the Bazball brigade firing, England will be tough to stop at home.
Conditions and Match Outlook
Edgbaston has become a chasing ground in recent years. Each of the last four Tests here has been won by the team batting second—including England’s historic 378-run chase against India in 2022.
That said, the pitch looks dry, and if the sun continues to shine, batting first may not be the worst option. India are tempted to go with two spinners, as Shubman Gill explained:
“If fast bowlers aren’t creating chances, a second spinner can at least control the flow of runs until the second new ball is available.”
Weather-wise, rain is forecasted on Days 4 and 5, which could cut into the match duration and impact strategies—particularly for the side batting second.
Key Stats and Trivia
- 6 out of 17 of England’s 250+ chases have come in the Bazball era.
- Kuldeep Yadav has the best strike rate in Test history among spinners with 50+ wickets.
- Jasprit Bumrah has averaged 16.75 in Tests since late 2024; the rest of India’s attack averages 47.22.
- Joe Root is on the verge of becoming the first player to score 3000 Test runs against India.
Final Word
With questions hanging over team selection, pitch conditions, and even the weather, the second Test at Edgbaston promises intrigue and intensity. Can India break their hoodoo at this ground and bounce back in the series? Or will England’s Bazball juggernaut roll on?
All eyes now turn to Birmingham, where the redemption arc or the repeat script begins—tomorrow.
Courtesy: by Sourabh Sanyal with input taken from ESPNCricinfo and Google.