“Jasprit Bumrah is available,” Shubman Gill declared firmly on the eve of the second Test at Edgbaston. But even as India’s captain confirmed the availability of his star pacer, he stopped short of guaranteeing that Bumrah would take the field.
We are trying to find the right combination that can pick 20 wickets and score runs as well. We will take the final call after looking at the wicket for the final time today.
It was the question that had shadowed India ever since their heavy defeat in Leeds: would the team risk Bumrah’s workload to square the series, or save him for later battles? The conundrum has exposed the selection uncertainties that have lingered since the start of the tour.
Asked bluntly how difficult it would be to play without their pace spearhead, Gill didn’t shy away. “It is difficult, but at the end of the day, our team comprises the best players in India. It is difficult but not impossible,” he said. “Luckily, we have a massive pool full of talent, which is why we are able to compete away from home.”
India’s struggles in Leeds were glaring despite five centuries across the match. Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Gill himself (147), and Rishabh Pant (134) set up a commanding first innings, before KL Rahul and Pant struck again in the second. But the lower order crumbled spectacularly, losing seven wickets for 71 runs in the first innings and another six for around 60 in the second.
On the bowling front, India’s attack looked toothless beyond Bumrah’s first-innings five-for. Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammed Siraj all struggled to maintain pressure, leaking boundaries and releasing any grip India had on the game.
Fielding was no better. More than half a dozen catches went down, leaving Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir visibly frustrated as England chased down 371 — Headingley’s highest successful pursuit.
Gill knows all three areas must improve if India are to level the series. “Picking the right combination will be crucial,” he said, hinting that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy could be brought in to shore up both batting depth and bowling variety.
England, meanwhile, are brimming with confidence and have named an unchanged XI. Ben Stokes spoke with genuine admiration for India’s standout performer.
I absolutely love watching Rishabh play cricket. I love the way he takes it on—all formats of the game. He’s got a bit of stick in his time, but when you let that type of talent be free, that’s what can happen.
“It’s one of those things where you look back and give credit to him — 200 runs in the game. We know we’re going to get our chances with the way Rishabh plays. On a different day, it could have looked a little bit different if one of those had gone straight into someone’s hand, but he’s a very dangerous player. I really enjoy watching him.”
While England have resisted the temptation to recall Jofra Archer, instead backing Chris Woakes to lead the attack, India remain undecided about their final XI. If Bumrah is rested, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh could slot in.
As Edgbaston prepares for another high-stakes duel, India will hope clarity in selection translates into performance on the field — and the chance to claw back into the series.
England (XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.; India (probable): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
