India are expected to shed their conservative selection approach as they look to bounce back in the second Test against England, beginning Wednesday at Edgbaston, with conditions again likely to favour the batters.
India’s inability to bowl England out on the final day at Leeds, where the hosts chased a record 371, has left the visitors grappling with a key question: how to field a team that has both batting depth and the firepower to claim 20 wickets.
By the team management’s own admission, the absence of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav proved costly in the first Test. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged that India are “trying to figure out” the right balance. “You need 20 wickets. So the attacking party is obviously finding someone who can get wickets. We don’t stop talking about that,” said ten Doeschate.
The surface at Edgbaston has a healthy covering of grass but remains dry underneath. Spinners are expected to come into play as the game progresses, prompting India to confirm they will go with two slow bowlers. While Ravindra Jadeja remains a certainty, the second spinner’s slot is between the versatile Washington Sundar and the more attacking Kuldeep.
Shardul Thakur played as a fast-bowling all-rounder at Headingley but struggled to make an impact. There is growing speculation that Nitish Reddy, who offers more with the bat, could be handed a debut, although dropping Thakur after just one match might be seen as harsh.
A cloud of uncertainty remains over Jasprit Bumrah’s selection. Captain Shubman Gill said Bumrah is available but the management will assess the pitch before making a final call. “We are trying to find the right combination where we can take 20 wickets and score runs,” said Gill at the pre-match press conference.
Should Bumrah sit out, the pace attack will likely comprise Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna. The trio lacked consistency in Leeds but are expected to have learned from the experience.
Jadeja, meanwhile, will hope for better returns after a quiet outing on a fifth-day turner in the opening Test. India will also look to tighten up their slip cordon after a poor catching display in Leeds, which cost Yashasvi Jaiswal his place in the cordon.
The batting unit has a more settled look. KL Rahul, Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and captain Gill are expected to carry on from their decent starts in the previous match. Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair are set to retain their places despite modest returns in the series opener.
England, bolstered by their reworked ‘Bazball’ strategy, continue to blend aggression with situational awareness. Jofra Archer, who was expected to return, has pulled out due to a family emergency. Chris Woakes, leading the pace attack, will be eager to shine on home turf after a quiet game in Leeds.
Josh Tongue remains a major threat to India’s vulnerable lower order, while Brydon Carse’s rhythm improved as the last match wore on. Captain Ben Stokes extracted the most out of conditions and will once again be pivotal in leading the charge.
England memorably chased down 378 on this same ground three years ago to draw the series. Edgbaston continues to be a high-scoring venue in county cricket, offering both sides opportunities—if they can seize them.
Squads:
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
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