India vs England have resumed their Test rivalry in the second match of the five-Test series at Edgbaston. After being put in to bat by England, India ended the first session at 98/2 and moved to 127/2 in the second. Yashasvi Jaiswal stood tall with a confident 75* off 87 balls, while skipper Shubman Gill is unbeaten on 17.
🇮🇳 India’s Top Order Shows Grit Against Early Swing
India lost KL Rahul and Karun Nair in the opening session but recovered well with Jaiswal’s fluent strokeplay. Rahul was dismissed by Chris Woakes, who maintained a testing line and length. Brydon Carse removed Nair, who fell to extra bounce in a testing spell.
Gill and Jaiswal have since stitched a solid stand, respecting the conditions and punishing loose deliveries.
🎯 India vs England: Tactical Changes by Both Teams
India made three significant changes from the first Test:
- Washington Sundar replaced Sai Sudharsan to deepen the batting.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy came in for Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder.
- Akash Deep replaced Jasprit Bumrah, who is being rested to manage his workload.
England, meanwhile, kept their lineup unchanged, banking on their pace-heavy attack and the spin option of Shoaib Bashir.
📈 Match Context: Why This Test Is Crucial for India
India trail 0-1 in the series after losing the first Test at Leeds. Historically, Edgbaston has not been kind to India, with England winning seven of the last eight Tests here. However, India hopes to turn things around by including three all-rounders and backing spin in a venue known to support visiting spinners.
🔍 India vs England: Key Match Stats
- Jaiswal has now scored four 50+ scores against England in five innings.
- England’s last win at Edgbaston vs India came in 2022, chasing 378.
- Spinners average just 29.40 at Edgbaston, the best for visitors in England.
🧠 Selection Calls Raise Questions
The decision to leave out both Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav has invited criticism. Kuldeep, especially, has a stellar record against England. Former captain Michael Atherton even pointed out at the toss that Kuldeep has only played 8 Tests in 15 years, highlighting India’s reluctance to back wrist-spin.
🔄 Live Match Summary
- India: 127/2 (33.4 Overs)
- Jaiswal: 75 (87), Gill: 17 (40)**
- England Bowling: Woakes 1/33, Carse 1/25
England’s bowlers continue to test India with disciplined spells, but Jaiswal’s aggressive intent and Gill’s patience are keeping them at bay.
📊 Edgbaston Test Record: India vs England
- 2022: England won by 5 wickets
- 2018: England won by 31 runs
- 2011: England won by innings & 242 runs
- 1986: Match drawn
India has only avoided defeat once at this venue since 1967.
🔎 Analysis: India’s Defensive Approach Under Scrutiny
India’s focus on batting depth and defensive tactics may backfire against England’s aggressive “Bazball” style. The exclusion of attacking bowlers in favor of control-based all-rounders has sparked debate on India’s intent and long-term strategy in overseas Tests.
