The second match of the five-Test series between India and England will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham, from July 2nd. Team India lost the first Test in Leeds, and they are now focused on winning the second Test to make a comeback in the series.
India Vs England 2nd Test: The second match of the ongoing five-Test series between India and England will be played from July 2nd at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Having lost the first Test in Leeds, Team India is already under pressure, and before the second Test, another piece of bad news has emerged: it is almost certain that the team's key fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, will not play in this match. According to reports, Bumrah might be rested due to his workload to keep him fit throughout the series.
Bumrah's absence is a huge setback for India, especially when England is preparing to make the Edgbaston pitch favorable for fast bowlers. Generally, the conditions here are helpful for batsmen, but given Bumrah's absence, the host team might intend to leave grass on the pitch to take full advantage of their fast bowling unit.
Strong possibility of Arshdeep Singh's debut
With Bumrah out, the biggest question is who will be given a chance in his place? According to reports, left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh might get a chance to make his debut. Although Arshdeep has not yet played Test cricket for India, his experience in county cricket in England could be in his favor.
Arshdeep's specialty is his swing, and he can take full advantage of the conditions. The angle of a left-arm bowler in English conditions can surprise the batsmen, which will benefit India. Akashdeep is also an option in the team, but experienced pundits believe that Arshdeep's variety and his recent performance in county cricket could give him an edge.
Eyes on Washington Sundar
Another major change could be seen in the form of Washington Sundar, replacing Shardul Thakur. Shardul was not effective with both bat and ball in the last match, and the team management is considering giving Washington Sundar a chance in his place. Washington Sundar has experience in off-spin, and he can also bat usefully in the lower order. This will prove to be very important for Team India, especially when England has an experienced bowling attack and the Indian batting needs depth.
Although Kuldeep Yadav is also included in the team and his chinaman bowling can become an X-factor, Sundar's batting ability and more economical off-spin could give him preference.
India's Possible Playing Eleven
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur/Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh/Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
