India Considering Major Changes Ahead of Edgbaston Test Against England

As India gear up to face England in the second Test at Edgbaston, all eyes are on team selection — especially with whispers of Jasprit Bumrah possibly being rested and the inclusion of a second spinner. Monday’s net session sparked plenty of intrigue, particularly with how the players were arranged and who seemed to be getting extra attention.

The surface at Leeds in the first Test was a batter’s paradise, and Edgbaston is expected to offer something similar — especially under the current hot and dry conditions. The pitch might still have a hint of grass, but spin is likely to play a bigger role this time around. And after India’s decision to go in with just one spinner in the first Test backfired, there’s a strong chance they’ll tweak their approach. 

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted at exactly that. “There is a very strong chance of playing two spinners. It's just which two we play,” he said, acknowledging the need to balance the attack without compromising batting depth. He confirmed all three spinners — Jadeja, Kuldeep, and Sundar — are bowling well, but dropped enough clues to suggest that Washington Sundar might get the nod ahead of Kuldeep. 

Another name making waves is Nitish Kumar Reddy. Though not officially confirmed, his name on a whiteboard during the nets session — alongside the frontline batters — raised eyebrows. With India’s lower order crumbling in both innings of the first Test, Reddy’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball could tip the scales in his favour. Observers also noticed him fielding alongside the likes of Karun Nair, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill in the slip cordon. 

Sundar, meanwhile, had a busy outing during practice. He bowled long spells alongside Jadeja and Kuldeep and then switched focus to his batting — facing throwdowns and working on technique in the central net. Given head coach Gautam Gambhir’s preference for multi-dimensional players, it’s looking increasingly likely Sundar will slot in, especially on a surface where control and batting depth will be key. 

And what about Jasprit Bumrah? The ace pacer turned up for training, jogged lightly, did some fielding drills, and even bowled a few overs. But with only a three-day gap between the second and third Tests, India might not risk overloading him — especially with the series still very much in the balance. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating selection puzzle, and all signs point to India fielding a more balanced, spin-friendly, and versatile XI come Wednesday. 

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