The suspense surrounding India's playing XI for the second Test against England has finally ended, as Captain Shubman Gill and team management have made three significant changes to the squad. The match is being held at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, where England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl first.
After suffering a five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Leeds, India has opted for a revamped lineup in an effort to bounce back and level the five-match Test series. Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shardul Thakur have been dropped for the second match. Replacing them are Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy—a notable shake-up aimed at bringing fresh energy to the team. Meanwhile, England have gone unchanged, retaining the same playing XI that secured victory in the first Test.
India faces an uphill battle at Edgbaston, a venue that has historically not favored them. Out of eight Test matches played at this ground, India has lost seven and drawn one. Given this record, winning the second Test will not only require a strong performance but also overcoming a psychological hurdle. If India fails to win this match, they will fall behind 2-0 in the series, making a comeback extremely challenging in the remaining three Tests. For the Indian side, this game is not just about redemption—it is vital for keeping the series alive.
India had a rough start to the series, losing the first Test in Leeds by five wickets. The defeat highlighted several areas of concern, particularly in bowling consistency and lower-order batting, prompting the team management to rethink their strategy for the second match.
Rohit Sharma (Captain)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Ravindra Jadeja
Washington Sundar
Ravichandran Ashwin
Mohammed Siraj
Akash Deep
Mukesh Kumar
As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on how the new-look Indian team performs and whether these bold changes will pay off against a confident English side.