For the second Test against England at Edgbaston, India’s playing XI will change, especially the pace attack.
A big reason is that Jasprit Bumrah will probably sit this one out. The team has decided to rest him as part of workload management. But, a surprise contender might just make it to the playing XI.
Reports from multiple journalists at Edgbaston say that Akash Deep, a 28-year-old right-arm seamer, is in line to replace Bumrah.
Sources say Akash Deep was part of India’s training session on Monday, just before the second Test. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who played in the first Test, were also involved in the practice. Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm seamer, practiced less and will probably miss out.
Reports say head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke to Jasprit Bumrah for a bit. Bumrah played in the first Test at Headingley, took the series’ first five-wicket haul. Despite India’s loss, Gambhir wants to stick to the workload management plan and not have Bumrah play more than three Tests.
To add to the uncertainty, journalists at Edgbaston also saw Bumrah marking his run-up and practicing.
Akash Deep has played 7 Tests for India, his last being the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December 2024. He has taken 15 Test wickets so far.
Arshdeep, 26, hasn’t made his Test debut yet. He is India’s top wicket-taker in T20Is but might have to wait for his Test chance.
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After the first Test, questions were raised about India’s bowling attack. They didn’t take 10 wickets in the second innings and England completed the second-highest successful run chase on English soil. Ben Duckett scored 149 in the second innings and India lost their first Test despite having five centurions in the team.
