ENG vs IND: 3 changes India can make for second test against England at Edgbaston

The second test between England and India will be played from July 2nd onwards.

India‘s close loss against England at Leeds revealed a number of weaknesses, particularly in the middle-order stability and fielding. In the first test, India suffered greatly due to careless catching and erratic bowling, despite the batters’ heroic efforts.

India made five centuries, with Rishabh Pant scoring two tons, and Jasprit Bumrah took a fifer. After Leeds’ failures, India may want to make three significant changes before the second test match at Edgbaston to improve their prospects and bring the XI back into balance.

3 changes India can make for the second test against England at Edgbaston

1. Bring in Kuldeep Yadav

With Jasprit Bumrah being the only strike bowler in India’s XI, it was painful to see him not getting the support he should’ve been getting. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, along with Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja, failed to intimidate the England batters, who chased 371 with ease.

Ravindra Jadeja’s failures to take advantage of rough patches meant that India didn’t have the success that they should’ve had on the final two days. Therefore, Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion is a must in the Indian XI. The left-arm wrist spinner still has an advantage over England batters, who, apart from Joe Root, still struggle against quality spin, and Edgbaston will give support to Kuldeep.

2. Arshdeep Singh in for Prasidh Krishna

India’s continued struggles to dislodge England’s batters were brought to light by Prasidh Krishna’s lack of effect in the opening test. His performance fell short of expectations as he struggled to take advantage of swing and seam under favourable circumstances. India requires a more reliable pacer for Edgbaston, where bowlers could receive more support as the game goes on, now that Jasprit Bumrah’s workload is being carefully managed.

Arshdeep Singh presents a strong substitute. The left-arm seamer can cause problems for England’s right-heavy batting lineup because of his swing and disciplined lines, which also bring variation to the attack. He is well-prepared for the red-ball challenge based on his solid domestic form and white-ball experience.

3. Nitish Kumar Reddy in for Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur’s lacklustre performance in the opening test provides compelling evidence for his exclusion. During England’s 371-run chase, the pace-bowling all-rounder failed to stop the flow of runs. India requires a more vibrant and powerful choice on a more responsive Edgbaston pitch.

The best substitute turns out to be Nitish Kumar Reddy. With steady domestic performances, notably a fast-paced fifty in an unofficial test match against the England Lions, the seam-bowling all-rounder has made an impression. His dual-threat skill maintains the five-bowler balance while fortifying India’s lower order.

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