After a gut-wrenching loss at Headingley, Team India will be desperate to bounce back in the second Test against England at Edgbaston, starting July 2. While the batting unit showed promise with five centuries across two innings, the bowling lacked bite beyond Jasprit Bumrah. With conditions in Birmingham expected to favor seamers early on, India must rethink their bowling combination to stay alive in the series.
ENG vs IND 2nd Test 2025: Edgbaston Pitch Report
The Edgbaston surface traditionally offers early seam movement and bounce, especially under overcast skies. Fast bowlers tend to dominate the first two days, while the pitch flattens out slightly by Day 3. Spinners come into play late in the match, but only if the surface dries out enough to create footmarks. Batting becomes easier once the shine wears off the ball, but chasing in the fourth innings can still be tricky.
- Average 1st innings score: 302
- Average 4th innings score: 157
- Toss trend: Teams prefer batting first, but recent results show success for both chasers and defenders.
ENG vs IND 2nd Test 2025: Weather Forecast
Expect cloudy skies and mild temperatures (16–18°C) throughout the Test. Humidity levels will hover around 75–85%, with light rain possible on Days 2 and 4. These conditions are tailor-made for swing bowlers, especially in the morning sessions. Wind speeds of 20–25 km/h could further assist lateral movement.
Also Read: India vs England 2nd Test 2025: Preview, Playing XI, Date, Time, Venue & Streaming Details
What Changes Should Team India Consider?
Nitish Kumar Reddy for Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur’s underwhelming performance at Headingley—just 6 overs in the first innings and minimal impact with the bat—makes a strong case for Nitish Kumar Reddy. The young all-rounder offers a similar skill set but with fresher legs and better control. His ability to hit the deck and contribute with the bat at No. 7 could bring better balance.
Arshdeep Singh for Mohammed Siraj
Siraj lacked rhythm and leaked runs in both innings. With overcast conditions expected, Arshdeep’s left-arm angle and ability to swing the ball could be a game-changer. He also adds variety to an otherwise right-arm-heavy pace attack.
Kuldeep Yadav or Akash Deep?
While Kuldeep offers wrist-spin variety, Edgbaston’s early conditions may not favor spin. If India wants to go all-in on pace, Akash Deep, who had a decent show in the Border Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, could slot in as the third seamer alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna.
Abhimanyu Easwaran for Sai Sudharsan
IPL 2025 Orange Cap holder Sai Sudharsan made his Test debut at Headingley. However, the youngster from Tamil Nadu couldn’t showcase his prowess in the longest format of the game. After getting out for a disappointing duck in the first innings, Sai could only manage 30 runs in the second innings. There are rumors around him ahead of the second Test as he is doubtful for the second test due to a shoulder injury. If that’s the case, Abhimanyu Easwara could make his India debut, or Agra’s wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel might find a place in the eleven with Karun Nair batting at no 3.
Also Read: Five Reasons Why Team India Lost the ENG vs IND 1st Test at Headingley
ENG vs IND 2nd Test 2025: Probable Playing XI (Based on Conditions)
Here’s the Playing XI for Team India in the 2nd Test at Edgbaston:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudharsan/Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Shubman Gill (C)
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Karun Nair
- Shardul Thakur/Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh/Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
One between Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy could slot in as the fourth seam bowling option. Another change could be bringing in the left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh for the struggling Mohammed Siraj, who scalped 2 in the first innings of the previous Test, but returned with nothing in the second innings.
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