Ravindra Jadeja to be dropped? Gautam Gambhir adds his like-for-like replacement to India Test squad

Is India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir all set to drop Ravindra Jadeja from the playing XI for the upcoming second Test match against England after losing the first Test of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy by five wickets at Headingley?

As India gears up for the crucial second Test, starting on July 2 at Edgbaston, Gautam Gambhir has called for a like-for-like replacement for Ravindra Jadeja after his ordinary performance at Headingley. The seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja could manage only 26 runs and scalped only one wicket in the first Test against England.

Ravindra Jadeja set to be dropped? Gautam Gambhir ropes in Harpreet Brar

Actually, Punjab Kings left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar was seen practicing in India’s net session at Edgbaston, which has sparked whispers of a potential like-for-like swap for the second Test against England. The Indian team management seems keen to assess Brar’s wrist-spin on lively turf. This hints that Ravindra Jadeja's place in the XI under the threat.

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This move comes just days after Gambhir hinted at injecting fresh spin options into the Test setup. Brar’s presence at the nets is now seen as a trial of his suitability to the challenging, seam-friendly pitches in England. Apart from Brar, Washington Sundar was also seen bowling at the nets at Edgbaston in the viral video.

Harpreet Brar has been spotted at the Indian nets at Edgbaston today… pic.twitter.com/CIcOWZPybQ

— Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) June 28, 2025

However, Harpreet Brar has not yet made his first-class debut. The young spinner is primarily seen as a T20 specialist, having played 96 games and taken 87 wickets. He also has 19 wickets in 18 List-A games. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja already has 324 wickets and over 3400 runs in 87 Tests, but his current form could go against him.

Meanwhile, India’s recent struggles in Test cricket have sparked growing pressure on head coach Gautam Gambhir. Former opener Aakash Chopra pointed out that India has managed just one win in their last nine Test matches since a home whitewash against New Zealand in November.

Read Also: Huge boost for India: Jasprit Bumrah hints at playing 2nd Test against England

Pressure mounts on Gautam Gambhir after India’s Test slump

With several senior players stepping aside, the Test team is clearly in transition. In the first match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the young Indian side led by Shubman Gill was outdone by the dominant England team under Ben Stokes at Headingley. As the losses pile up, all eyes are now on Gambhir to turn things around in the traditional format of the game.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir. The pressure is absolutely mounting. If you look at his performances in Test cricket, you will find that he has not won a lot of matches. He won two matches against Bangladesh and one against Australia. However, he lost three against New Zealand, three against Australia, and one against England. He has been continuously losing.”

Gautam Gambhir must deliver results in Test cricket: Aakash Chopra

The cricket pundit took a sharp dig at Gambhir, saying that the Indian head coach is getting everything it wants, so it is now up to him to deliver results, and there’s no room for excuses.

Chopra added, “Because the selectors feel that whatever team management is asking for, it is being given. The type of player you want, the number of players you want, and the player you are pointing at are being given. So, if this is the case, then you also need to deliver the results. Period. There is no excuse.”

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