India take on England in the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, beginning Wednesday, July 2. After falling short while defending a 371-run target in the opening match, Shubman Gill and his side will be eager to bounce back and level the five-match series, while Ben Stokes’ team aim to build on their momentum and go 2-0 up.
Table of Contents
England vs India 2nd Test: Preview
“Let’s fill this town with artists,” proclaims a banner outside a themed storefront near Birmingham New Street Station—a message the city seems to be living by. This weekend, Birmingham pays homage to its musical roots as the original Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—reunite for a historic performance at Villa Park, their first in two decades.
The city has embraced the moment, draping itself in tribute. Murals have emerged on street corners, the City Museum is hosting a full retrospective on Ozzy—the working-class icon turned rock legend—and thousands are set to flood the streets to honour the band that gave the world heavy metal. Metallica, Tool, and Lamb of God are all in town to join the celebration.
Against this electric, defiant backdrop arrives the second Test.
That memorable Edgbaston Test marked England’s fourth consecutive win under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum—a dream start to the Bazball era. Though the ride since has seen a few hiccups, England’s ultra-aggressive approach has built a convincing case. When conditions play to their strengths, few teams can withstand the relentless pressure this style exerts.
Interestingly, England’s most significant defeats in this era haven’t come through conventional tactics, but rather when their opponents have taken control of the environment—like Pakistan’s slow, docile pitches last year, which neutralised England’s pace-heavy attack and limited their scoring tempo.
England, by contrast, will stick to the formula that’s brought them results. No changes. Same XI. Same belief that their batters can deliver across two innings, especially on flat, unyielding pitches where momentum can switch in a blink. It’s a high-stakes strategy, but one that’s paid off at home often enough to silence any doubts.
Six of England’s 17 successful chases of 250-plus in Test cricket have come during the Bazball era.
Joe Root is just 73 runs short of becoming the first batter to score 3000 Test runs against India.
Joe Root is on the verge of history with 102 fifty-plus scores in Tests, just one behind Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting. Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 119, has more.
Interestingly, England—despite considering Edgbaston a fortress—have lost three of their last five Tests at the venue.
India have managed just one win in their last nine Test matches—a slump they haven’t endured in nearly a decade. The last time they went through such a barren run was between Southampton 2014 and Galle 2015, a nine-Test stretch without a single win.
That earlier period marked a phase of transition, much like the present. In both instances, India squandered strong positions—games they looked certain to win. That 2014-15 phase ended with a shocking defeat in Galle, while the latest chapter concluded with last week’s collapse at Headingley, where India let a seemingly unlosable match slip away.
The parallels are hard to ignore.
But there’s a difference: we view 2014-15 with the benefit of hindsight. We know India bounced back from that tough phase, came from 1-0 down to beat Sri Lanka 2-1, and launched a golden era that saw them dominate Test cricket for much of the next decade.
Now, we’re living the 2024-25 chapter in real time. Its outcome remains unwritten.
Whatever happens next, the story resumes at Edgbaston—a venue where India have never won in eight attempts. The last visit here, three years ago, ended in heartbreak as Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow masterminded a record fourth-innings chase that denied India a series win and gave England a famous comeback victory.
At Edgbaston, India won’t have the luxury of controlling external factors. The pitch, the weather, and the Dukes ball are beyond their influence. But one thing firmly in their hands is team selection. That could be crucial.
A key decision lies in the possible inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah, who may only feature in two of the remaining four Tests. Another question is whether India will dare to sacrifice batting depth in favour of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav—perhaps the only other world-class wicket-taker in the squad alongside Bumrah.
Since the beginning of the 2024-25 tour of Australia, Jasprit Bumrah has taken 29 wickets at an impressive average of 16.75, while the rest of India’s bowlers have managed 46 wickets at a combined average of 47.22.
Kuldeep Yadav holds the best strike rate (37.3) among all spinners in Test history with a minimum of 50 wickets.
Kuldeep’s impact was undeniable the last time India faced Bazball. After going 1-0 down at home earlier this year, his inclusion in the XI—at the cost of an allrounder—helped India flip the script. That bold move gave them their most potent bowling attack and forced England to test their fearless method against the best India had to offer.
This kind of brave, clarity-driven decision-making also defined the turnaround after India’s nine-Test winless stretch in 2014-15. Back then, a reset in thinking led to the beginning of a dominant Test era.
Now, after another such barren phase, the question looms: what mindset will shape India’s next chapter in 2025?
That answer may begin to unfold at Edgbaston.
India’s defeat in Leeds wasn’t solely down to the two batting collapses, though they did mark pivotal turning points in a match they seemed to have under control at various stages. More than anything, those stumbles reflected a broader lapse in intensity—something new captain Shubman Gill must now confront head-on. Test cricket is a game of endurance, demanding unwavering concentration and rhythm across days, not just sessions. Even with a world-class spearhead like Jasprit Bumrah, India can’t rely on individual brilliance alone. The rest of the attack must harmonise, and their efforts need to be matched with sharp, disciplined fielding.
Ravindra Jadeja’s recent bowling form is a concern: over his last four Tests, he averages 78 with the ball and has claimed just 5 wickets in 110 overs.
But now India face a heavy decision: play their fiercest weapon at Edgbaston, or preserve him for the battles ahead? With Lord’s approaching fast, and Bumrah expected to feature in only three of the five Tests, it’s a strategic dilemma. Resting him now could mean keeping him fresh, but it might also mean going into a must-win Test without their most potent force.
It’s a decision loaded with consequence. Bumrah, after all, captained India the last time they played here. And even though the coaching staff backs the depth of their bowling group to take 20 wickets without him, that belief will be tested—especially if the team continues to cling to the safety net of an extra batter. Headingley showed England’s bowling isn’t invincible. India’s top seven must be trusted to deliver, and the urge to react to collapses with overly cautious selections must be resisted.
India remain winless in their eight Test appearances at Edgbaston, with a record of one draw and seven defeats.
Now, the onus is on Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Will they respond with bold, aggressive selections of their own? Will they trust their core group to play with freedom and intensity rather than fear?
In a city buzzing with nostalgia and noise, this Test feels like more than just a cricket match. One more act of Bumrah, in this heavy-metal cauldron, might be exactly what the moment—and the series—demands.
The amps are humming. The mood in Birmingham is electric. It’s time for India to match the noise, and turn the volume all the way up.
England vs India 2nd Test: Recent Form
England WWLWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
India LLLDL
England vs India 2nd Test: Head-to-head
India are winless in eight Test matches at Edgbaston, with one draw and seven defeats. Meanwhile, England have also stumbled recently at their home stronghold, losing three of their last five Tests at the venue.
- Matches Played: 137
- England Won: 52
- India Won: 35
- Drawn: 50
- First Meeting: 25th to 28th June, 1932
- Last Meeting: 20to June to 24th June, 2025
England vs India 2nd Test: Weather Report & Pitch Conditions
The series started at Headingley, where the team batting second secured their seventh consecutive victory. It now moves to Edgbaston, another ground favoring bowlers first; the team batting second has won the last four Tests here, including England’s record chase against India in 2022.
The UK’s warm summer could help balance things for the team batting first, as it seemed to at Headingley, where India held the upper hand at times. The dry pitch has led India to consider playing two spinners.
However, Edgbaston has been a tough venue for spinners recently. Among the seven English Test grounds used this decade, it ranks third-worst for both spinners and fast bowlers. While pacers average 30.00 here, spinners have struggled with an average of 44.45.
The weather forecast for Birmingham includes rain, especially on days four and five, which could affect play.
Despite recent sunshine, the pitch shows a mixed character. Although there was some grass two days ago, the surface beneath is dry, suggesting a high-scoring first innings, similar to Headingley and a recent County match here. Spin has generally been less effective in the Bazball era at Edgbaston, but off-spinners have had success—Nathan Lyon and Moeen Ali made their mark in the 2023 Ashes opener, and R Ashwin shone here in 2018. Light rain is expected on Days 1, 4, and 5, but it’s unlikely to cause major disruption.
England vs India 2nd Test: Team News and Predicted XI
England – Team News
England have chosen to retain the same XI that secured victory in the Leeds opener, postponing Jofra Archer’s Test comeback for now. However, Archer will remain with the squad this weekend to stay connected with the Test environment.
England – Playing XI
- 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 – Team News
If Bumrah sits out, Akash Deep is the most likely replacement. He showed control and determination in Australia despite limited success and is expected to join Siraj and Prasidh Krishna in the pace attack. India may also make a change at No.8 following Shardul Thakur’s lackluster performance in Leeds. A two-spinner combination is being seriously considered, though the second spinner might not be Kuldeep Yadav. Washington Sundar is being viewed as a more balanced option, especially given the recent success of offspinners at Edgbaston.
Shubman Gill remained non-committal about the final selection in his pre-match press conference. While Bumrah is “definitely available,” it’s uncertain if he will play, with the team set to make a final decision after assessing conditions at Edgbaston. Gill acknowledged that India might have missed having a second spinner during the Headingley second innings and suggested they could include one here, without specifying whether it would be wristspinner Kuldeep or offspinner Washington Sundar.
India – Predicted XI
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Karun Nair/Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja/Washington Sundar
- Arshdeep Singh/Akash Deep
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
England vs India 2nd Test: Players Under the Spotlight
Ben Stokes (England)
Ben Stokes is back to bowling regularly. Last year’s fitness issues had limited him to batting-only duties during the India tour, which disrupted England’s balance and contributed to their 4-1 series loss. Since then, he’s consistently bowled significant spells, delivering at least 35 overs in two of his last three Tests—against New Zealand in Hamilton and at Headingley last week.
Headingley also saw his first five-wicket match haul since 2022. With the bat, however, Stokes displayed signs of a recurring problem from last year’s India tour: a lack of confidence in his defence against spin. His aggressive reverse-sweep strategy earned him a fortunate 33 in the fourth innings but likely gave India clues on how to bowl to him moving forward.
B Sai Sudharsan (India)
At Headingley, B Sai Sudharsan became the first Indian batter since Tamil Nadu’s WV Raman in January 1988 to make a men’s Test debut with a first-class average below 40. Despite this, the selectors showed faith by slotting him at No. 3.
He demonstrated his potential by meeting the ball well and scoring 30 in the second innings, but his dismissals in both innings—falling to half-volleys on or outside leg stump—indicated he still has progress to make to handle the precision and intensity of Test-level bowling attacks.
England vs India 2nd Test: Match Prediction
Based on recent form and conditions, this Test at Edgbaston promises to be a fiercely contested battle. England’s unchanged XI, bolstered by Ben Stokes’ return to full bowling fitness, will rely on their aggressive Bazball approach and home advantage to pressure India. Joe Root’s experience and hunger to reach milestones add further firepower to their batting lineup.
India face a critical decision over Jasprit Bumrah’s availability, and whether to strengthen their attack with Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar. With spinners traditionally less effective here but off-spinners having some success, India’s bowling attack will need to find rhythm and support from their top order, especially under captain Shubman Gill’s leadership.
The pitch looks set for a high-scoring first innings, but rain interruptions on days four and five could complicate matters. If India can maintain focus and intensity, particularly in their batting, they have a solid chance to push England hard. However, England’s familiarity with conditions and their recent record chasing at Edgbaston give them a slight edge.
Prediction: England to narrowly edge a thrilling Test, but expect a tight contest where moments from key players like Stokes and Bumrah will decide the outcome.
When and Where to Watch the England vs India 2nd Test LIVE? Live Telecast and Streaming Details
The second test match between England and India will be held from Wednesday, July 2-6, with Day 1 starting at 3:30 PM IST. The match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports network, and you can also stream it live on the JioHotstar website and app.
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FAQs
When and where is the second Test between India and England taking place?
The second Test starts on July 2 at Edgbaston, Birmingham from 3:30 PM IST.
Has India ever won a Test at Edgbaston?
No, India have not won any of their eight Test matches played at Edgbaston.
What is England’s recent form like at Edgbaston?
England have lost three of their last five Tests at Edgbaston despite considering it a home fortress.
Is Jasprit Bumrah expected to play in this Test?
Bumrah’s participation is uncertain; he is expected to play only three Tests in the series, and a final decision will be made based on conditions.
How have spinners historically performed at Edgbaston?
Spinners have struggled at Edgbaston, with a relatively high bowling average, though some off-spinners like R Ashwin and Moeen Ali have had success here.
