The second Test match between England and India is set to begin on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Edgbaston in Birmingham. India trails the five-match series 0-1 after losing the first Test in Leeds. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM IST, with the toss taking place at 3:00 PM IST.

India's Predicted Playing XI and Potential Changes

Following their defeat in the first Test, India is expected to make strategic changes to their playing XI, focusing on strengthening their bowling attack and adding depth to their batting lineup.

• Jasprit Bumrah's Workload: There is speculation that Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled extensively in the previous game, might be rested for this Test as part of workload management. Shubman Gill stated that Bumrah is available but a final decision will be made after assessing the conditions. It was anticipated that Bumrah would only play three of the five Tests.
• Possible Replacements for Bumrah: If Bumrah is rested, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep are potential replacements. Arshdeep Singh could provide a left-arm option, potentially giving him an edge.
• Spin Options: India might include two spinners in the team, considering the dry Edgbaston surface. Ravindra Jadeja is likely to be a definite inclusion, with Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav being considered for the second spinner spot. Washington Sundar's batting depth could give him an advantage. Kuldeep Yadav, despite a strong record at home against England, may have to sit out.
• Nitish Kumar Reddy in Place of Shardul Thakur: Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to replace Shardul Thakur to bolster the batting.

Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep.

England's Unchanged Playing XI

England has announced an unchanged playing XI for the second Test. Despite adding Jofra Archer to the squad, they decided to stick with the winning combination from the first Test.

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir.

Key Players to Watch

• For India: All eyes will be on Shubman Gill to see if he can lead the team to a victory. Rishabh Pant will also be a key player, after scoring centuries in each innings of the first Test.
• For England: Ben Duckett, who was named Player of the Match in the first Test, and Joe Root, are crucial batsmen for England.

Series Context

England currently leads the series 1-0 after successfully chasing down a target of 371 in the first Test at Headingley. India's batting was strong in the first Test, but their lower middle order and tail need to show more resilience. India's bowling and fielding also need to improve significantly.

Streaming Information

The second Test match will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website in India. It will also be telecast on the Sony Sports Network.