Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair hang by a thread as shocking India entrant confirmed for 2nd Test

India are considering making four changes to their lineup for the second Test at Edgbaston following their defeat in the opening match at Headingley in Leeds. The Men in Blue are yet to announce the playing XI, but the team management is considering changes to bounce back in the five-match Test series.

England secured a five-wicket victory over India in the opening Test. The second match of the series is set to begin in Birmingham on Wednesday, July 2. India are likely to rest Jasprit Bumrah with only a three-day gap between the second and third Tests. He is expected to feature in only three Tests in England.

Jasprit Bumrah to Be Replaced by Akash Deep for 2nd Test vs England

According to Boria Majumdar from RevSportz, Jasprit Bumrah will be replaced by Akash Deep, who has recovered from a niggle. Akash also had a decent outing during the Australia tour and is expected to be useful in English conditions due to his ability to generate swing.

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The report added that there have been discussions about replacing Prasidh Krishna with Arshdeep Singh. Prasidh was expensive with the ball despite taking wickets in the series opener. Arshdeep could prove useful in Bumrah’s absence, but the final decision on this has not yet been made.

"Akash Deep has been bowling well at the nets and is finally niggle free. It is being contemplated on if Prasidh Krishna can be replaced by Arshdeep Singh. In the absence of Bumrah, Arshdeep’s ability to swing the ball late could come in handy. The caveat here is not rubber-stamped yet," the report read.

Washington Sundar Likely to Replace Shardul Thakur for Second Test

India are considering two more changes to their playing XI for the second Test. Washington Sundar is likely to replace Shardul Thakur, with the team management backing his skills with both bat and ball.

The report further stated that either Sai Sudharsan or Karun Nair might make way for Nitish Kumar Reddy. The young all-rounder offers a valuable option with his medium-pace bowling, which could help ease the workload on the frontline pacers.

With these changes, India will have six bowling options, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The team is aiming for a balanced lineup with strong bowling depth, especially with a high-scoring game expected.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar Miss Out on India’s XI

Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, and Washington Sundar were not part of India’s playing XI for the series opener. Reddy made his Test debut during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he scored 298 runs at an average of 37.25 and took five wickets in nine innings.

Arshdeep is yet to make his Test debut, but he has impressed in white-ball cricket. Akash Deep has played seven Tests, taking 15 wickets at an average of 35.20, including three wickets in the only Test he played in the home series against England last year.

Washington Sundar has featured in nine Tests, scoring 468 runs at an average of 42.54. The off-spinner has also taken 25 wickets in 16 innings at an average of 25.64.

Notably, Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair were both dismissed for ducks in the first innings of the Leeds Test but scored 30 and 20 runs, respectively, in the second innings.

Also read: Yashasvi Jaiswal banned from switching teams in England