3 key changes India should consider for the 2nd Test against England

India’s five-wicket loss in the first Test against England at Headingley wasn't an ideal start for Shubman Gill, who wouldn’t have imagined such a beginning to his captaincy debut. Despite solid batting performances from Gill, Yashsvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul, the visitors let the match slip due to poor fielding, limited wicket-taking chances, and lower-order collapses.

For the second Test in Birmingham, India must make a few changes to make a comeback. With no confirmation of Jasprit Bumrah's availability in the second game, the team might look to field a strong attack without their ace pacer. The combination might lead to dropping some players. In the batting department, Karun Nair and debutant Sai Sudharsan didn’t convert their starts, putting pressure on the top order, and the lower order collapsed in both innings, making limited contributions with the bat.

Three changes India should make for the second Test against England:

3. Nitish Kumar Reddy in the Playing XI for Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur’s return to the Indian Test side after more than a year wasn't as ideal as he would have liked. With the bat, Thakur registered one-digit scores of just one and four, resulting in India’s lower-order collapse in both innings. While he did pick up two wickets in the fourth innings, including back-to-back dismissals, he went wicketless and expensive in the first innings, conceding 38 runs in just six overs. Despite his potential, the team management underutilized Thakur, introducing him into the attack only after the 40-over mark. 

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy has already impressed with a century in Australia and over 1200 runs in First-Class format. While his bowling might not match Shardul’s abilities, Nitish is a brilliant batter and can add depth that the team desperately needs in the lower order. If the team wants more solid options in positions 7and lower, the Andhra-born is an ideal replacement for the Mumbai all-rounder.