The highly anticipated 2nd Test of the India vs England Test series 2025 is set to take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, from July 2 to July 6, 2025. After England’s thrilling chase at Headingley, they lead the five-match series 1-0 and look to extend their dominance at home.
India, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, seeks a quick response, navigating player workload concerns and pitch strategies in a crucial tie that could set the tone for the rest of the tour.
🏟️ Venue & Pitch Conditions: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Edgbaston is known for its balanced conditions — early swing and seam for pacers, followed by turn and bounce that can assist spinners from Day 3 onwards. Teams winning the toss may prefer to bat first, as the wicket tends to deteriorate with time.
📰 Breaking Team News
England’s Confirmed Playing XI
England have named an unchanged XI from the 1st Test:
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (C)
- Jamie Smith (WK)
- Chris Woakes
- Brydon Carse
- Josh Tongue
- Shoaib Bashir
🔍 Key Notes:
- Jofra Archer misses out due to a personal emergency.
- England continue their “smart Bazball” approach — balancing aggression with situational awareness.
India’s Probable Playing XI (Pending Final Announcement)
Indian team expected to change their squad due to fitness and form issues:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill (C)
- Rajat Patidar / Karun Nair
- Shreyas Iyer
- Rishabh Pant / Srikar Bharat (WK)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy / Washington Sundar
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Siraj / Prasidh Krishna
- Mukesh Kumar
🔍 Possible Changes:
- Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested in 2nd test.
- Arshdeep Singh might replace Jasprit Bumrah him in the XI.
- Kuldeep Yadav may return as a second spinner, adding wrist-spin variety on a potentially dry Edgbaston pitch.
- India may choose Nitish Reddy or Washington Sundar as all-rounders to deepen the batting.
🔥 Trending Topics & Key Questions
❓ Will Jasprit Bumrah Play the 2nd Test?
India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah may be rested after a heavy workload in the past 12 months, he started playing test match from Bangladesh Series. Team management is reportedly looking at the long-term picture, especially with WTC points in mind.
❓ Kuldeep Yadav vs Washington Sundar – Who Gets the Nod?
With the pitch likely to take spin from Day 3, Kuldeep’s wrist spin is seen as a potential match-winner. Experts like Sanjay Manjrekar and Sunil Gavaskar back his inclusion.
❓ Can England Sustain Bazball 2.0?
England’s “smart Bazball” — an evolved strategy that blends attacking play with game awareness — worked wonders in Headingley. Can it crack India’s adjustments?
🔍 Player to Watch
- Ben Stokes: With both bat and ball, he remains England’s emotional and tactical leader.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: India’s opener has shown promise; he could be the anchor India needs.
- Kuldeep Yadav: If picked, the Edgbaston pitch might suit his attacking wrist spin.
- Harry Brook: In red-hot form; could be the game-changer again.
- Arshdeep Singh: His ability to swing the new ball could prove decisive in Bumrah’s absence.
🔮 Prediction & Series Context
With the series tilted 1-0 in favor of England, the 2nd Test could act as a momentum shifter. If India level the series, it opens the narrative for a closely fought contest. If England go 2-0 up, India will have to focus more on winning next 3 matches.
🧠 Expert Quotes
“If India want to take 20 wickets, they’ll need Kuldeep on a pitch like Edgbaston” – Sanjay Manjrekar
“Bumrah needs rest; workload management must override short-term urgency.” – Sunil Gavaskar
