Head coach Gautam Gambhir was reported to have held an extended conversation with Jasprit Bumrah two days prior to the second Test at Edgbaston.
Changes are expected to be introduced in India’s fast-bowling unit for the second Test against England at Edgbaston. This move is being prompted by the plan to give pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah a rest as part of workload management. According to reports, Akash Deep has been named as the likely inclusion in the playing XI.
Reports from Edgbaston indicate that the 28-year-old right-arm pacer Akash Deep is expected to be included in place of Bumrah.
It has been noted that Akash Deep received significant attention during India’s training session on Monday, which was held two days before the second Test scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 2.
In addition to Akash Deep, fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna—who both participated in the first Test—were seen practicing extensively. Meanwhile, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh was involved to a lesser extent and is therefore expected to be excluded from the final XI.
It has also been reported that Jasprit Bumrah was engaged in a lengthy discussion by head coach Gautam Gambhir. Jasprit Bumrah was credited with the series’ first five-wicket haul during his outing in the opening Test at Headingley. Despite India’s loss, Gambhir is said to have insisted on maintaining the workload management strategy, limiting Bumrah to no more than three Tests in the series.
However, ambiguity is still being observed concerning the final selection of the playing XI. Observers at Edgbaston mentioned that Bumrah was also seen marking his run-up and practicing in the nets.
Akash Deep has already featured in seven Tests for India, with his most recent appearance coming in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December 2024. Across his Test career, he has claimed 15 wickets.
In contrast, a Test debut is yet to be made by Arshdeep Singh. Although he is 26 years old and currently India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, his opportunity to play in the longest format may need to be delayed.
Concerns had been expressed over India’s bowling unit following the first Test, in which they failed to dismiss England in the second innings. This allowed England to complete the second-highest successful run chase in Test history on English soil. A decisive role was played by Ben Duckett’s 149-run innings in India being handed the ignominy of becoming the first team to lose a Test match despite featuring five individual centurions.
