Following India's defeat in the first Test against England, cricket experts are offering their advice to captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir regarding team selections for the crucial second Test. Several recommendations focus on bolstering the bowling attack, which struggled to contain England's batting lineup in the first match.

One prominent suggestion involves including Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has strongly advocated for Kuldeep's inclusion, calling it an "absolute no-brainer". He believes Kuldeep's wicket-taking ability would provide a significant boost to the Indian bowling attack, regardless of the pitch conditions. Clarke criticized India's tendency to prioritize batting depth over a balanced bowling lineup, emphasizing the importance of taking 20 wickets to win in England.

Echoing Clarke's sentiment, former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta has also advised the team management to make changes to the playing XI. Dasgupta suggested including Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Sai Sudharsan and playing Kuldeep Yadav at No. 8. Sudharsan, who made his debut in the first Test, scored 0 and 30 in the two innings. Dasgupta believes that Nitish Kumar Reddy would offer a better option in the second Test.

Another bold suggestion has come from former England spinner Monty Panesar, who believes that resting Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test at Edgbaston could work in India's favor. Bumrah was the most effective quick in the first Test, taking 5/83 in the first innings, but went wicketless in the second. Panesar suggests that the conditions at Edgbaston might better suit a different bowling attack. He told ANI that making this strategic choice could enhance their performance on that crucial pitch. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has declared that the management would not budge on Bumrah's three-match utilisation.

Apart from bowling changes, concerns have been raised about the team's fielding performance. Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin believes that captain Shubman Gill should be held responsible for raising the fielding standards of the team. Haddin pointed out that great teams are always great fielding teams and that Gill needs to ensure an attitude adjustment. India dropped at least eight catches in the first Test, contributing to their defeat. Haddin indirectly blamed the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for dropped catches in the first Test.