The India vs England Test series has already served up plenty of drama. Despite smashing five centuries in the opening game at Headingley, India led by Shubman Gill and packed with exciting young talent still slipped to a five-wicket defeat. With Jasprit Bumrah available for only three of the five-match series, his presence--or absence--could swing the momentum either way in the second Test. All eyes now turn to Edgbaston in Birmingham, where the next Test kicks off on July 2.
Will Jaspirt Bumrah Play Second Test?
On Saturday, Jasprit Bumrah returned to bowling during India’s optional training session ahead of the 2nd Test, sending down deliveries for over half an hour. While he skipped bowling on Friday, his Saturday session was a positive sign that the pacer can play the Edgbaston Test. However, the final decision on his inclusion in the playing XIs will depend on how his body feels closer to matchday.
In the first Test at Headingley, Bumrah was India’s main bowler in the first innings, picking up five wickets. His figures could’ve looked even better--perhaps nine wickets--had the fielders not dropped four catches off his bowling. He went wicketless in the second innings but was a constant threat throughout.
KL Rahul And His Commitment For India
The wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul put India first yet again. He is opting to travel early to England for preparation rather than staying back with his newborn daughter. Rahul scored a century in the side game ahead of India's Tour of England 2025 and followed it up with scores of 42 and 100 in the first Test.
KL Rahul’s coach Hemang Badani lauded his commitment, telling TimesofIndia.com, “I really liked the fact that he was someone who said, ‘I want to go to England early. I want to play the side game.’ … For him to say, ‘Country over my child’ — that’s a huge call.”
Prasidh Krishna Points Out Mistkes At Headingley
Meanwhile, ahead of the Birmingham Test, Prasidh Krishna admitted that he bowled "a little too short" in the first innings at Headingley and took full responsibility for not hitting the right lengths.
"Second innings it got slightly better… I had to pitch a few slightly behind 8, and go slightly fuller,” he said. Prasidh conceded 128 runs in the first innings and 92 in the second, ending with an economy of over 6 in both.
“I definitely did not bowl the lengths that I wanted to… No reasons, but I should be able to do it as a professional,” he added, in hopes to improve in the Edgbaston match.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Wonders
India's wonder kid, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, continues to dazzle. After his Indian Premier League 2025 heroics, the 14-year-old stunned everyone with a fiery 48 off 19 balls for India U-19 against England U-19. Opening at Hove in the No. 18 jersey, the Bihar-born batter smashed five sixes and three fours, helping his side claim a six-wicket win in the Youth ODI series opener.
Yashasvi Jaiswal To Break These Records
Yashasvi Jaiswal is on the cusp of surpassing a record that has stood unchallenged for nearly 50 years. The 23-year-old left-hander needs just 97 runs in the second Test against England at Edgbaston, to become the fastest Indian to 2000 Test runs in terms of matches played--breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s mark of 23 Tests. If he achieves the feat in a single innings, he will set a new Indian record outright; if he takes both innings, he’ll match Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag's 40-innings milestone--the fastest by an Indian in terms of innings.
