ENG vs IND 2025: Why are Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan not playing second Test?

After losing the first Test by five wickets against England at Headingley, Shubman Gill-led India will look to bounce back strongly in the second Test, which begins on Wednesday, July 2, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. However, most of the England players looked in great touch in the series opener, and would want to carry their form through the second Test.

Toss Update

Gill called incorrectly at the toss, and Ben Stokes decided to field first. The England skipper said that the overcast conditions could help his seamers upfront. He also mentioned that his team is confident after the emphatic win in the first Test. Meanwhile, Gill admitted that he would have also bowled first had he won the toss. He said that if the pitch is going to have any help for the bowlers, it's going to be there on Day 1.

India make three changes, but Kuldeep Yadav still misses out; England stick to winning combination

England had already announced their playing XI on Monday, June 30. They stuck with the same team, which helped them win the first Test. Stokes mentioned at the toss that they did consider bringing Jofra Archer into the mix. On the other hand, Shubman announced three changes as Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, and Shardul Thakur made way for Akash Deep, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar. The Punjab batter clarified that Bumrah was rested as the team management wants him to be fresh for the third Test at Lord's, where he is expected to get a lot out of the surface. Shubman also said that he had contemplated bringing Kuldeep Yadav into the side but opted to add depth to the batting lineup in the end.

What did the captains say?

Ben Stokes, England

We're going to bowl. Overhead conditions favour it. Did consider everything (bringing Archer into the squad?). Very good team performance last week, we're confident. You understand the conditions better as you go deeper into the Test. Brains and me and Baz are not three things you put together. Great run chase, great Test to be part of great start to the series. Last week is last week, need to concentrate on this week.

Shubman Gill, India

Would've bowled first as well. If there's anything in the wicket, it's in the first day. Three changes - Reddy, Washi and Akash Deep come in. No Bumrah. Just to manage his workload. We did get a good break and this is an important match for us. But the third Test being at Lord's, we think there'll be more in that pitch so we'll use him there. We were tempted to play Kuldeep but looking at the last match, our lower order didn't do well, so decided to add some depth to the batting.

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Playing XIs

England

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

India

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.