ENG vs IND Playing 11, 2nd Test: Sundar, Reddy come in for Sai, Shardul
IND vs ENG Playing 11: England have announced the unchanged playing 11 for the second Test. India made three changes in the XI from previous match
 "India vs England 2nd Test Playing 11 live updates")
India vs England 2nd Test Playing 11 live updates
In a move mirroring their aggressive, instinct-driven brand of cricket, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bowl first in the second Test against India at Edgbaston, Birmingham today. With cloud cover looming and swing-friendly conditions on offer, Stokes said the decision was straightforward.
“Overhead conditions favour bowling. Very good team performance last week, we’re confident. Great run chase, great start to the series,” said Stokes, tongue firmly in cheek as he added, “Brains, me and Baz are not three things you put together.”
England head into the match unchanged after their emphatic five-wicket win at Headingley, fielding the same XI that produced a 371-run chase.
Gill forced into bold calls: No Bumrah, no Kuldeep
India captain Shubman Gill admitted he would have bowled first too, acknowledging that any early juice in the wicket would be gone by Day 2. But it was the team sheet that sparked the real talking points.
India have made three changes to their line-up: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep come in, while Jasprit Bumrah is rested as part of workload management ahead of the third Test at Lord’s.
“If there’s anything in the wicket, it’s on Day 1. We wanted to manage Bumrah's workload. We were tempted to play Kuldeep, but chose to add batting depth instead,” Gill revealed.
This means no Kuldeep Yadav, despite the buzz around including a second spinner after the Headingley loss.
India’s XI reshuffled, all-rounders in focus
The absence of Bumrah and Kuldeep signals a shift in India’s approach, favouring batting depth and multi-dimensional players. The selection of both Reddy and Washington alongside Ravindra Jadeja gives India a trio of all-rounders to support a bowling attack that now includes Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
All eyes on India's new-look attack
With no Bumrah and no Kuldeep, India’s ability to take 20 wickets on a ground where they’ve never won a Test will be severely tested. For England, the task is simple: ride the Bazball momentum and turn pressure into dominance.
Day 1 at Edgbaston promises drama, with big gambles already in play before a ball is bowled.
3:08 PM
2nd Test DAY 1 | India vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES
3:05 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: India's Playing 11
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
3:02 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Three changes in India's XI
India makes three changes in their Playing 11.
Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep playing today's match.
Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep playing today's match.
3:01 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: England playing 11
England Playing 11 for the 2nd Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
3:01 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: India batting first
England captain Ben Stokes wins the toss and elects to bowl first.
2:57 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: India's XI to be unveiled at 3 PM IST
We are just moments away from the India vs England 2nd Test live toss. The playing 11 will be unveil after the toss.
2:54 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: India Playing 11 prediction
India Playing 11 probables: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
2:52 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Nitish Reddy marks his run-up
Like Akash Deep, Nitish Kumar Reddy has marked his run-up ahead of toss. Two changes in India's playing 11 somewhat confirmed.
We are waiting for official confirmation.
We are waiting for official confirmation.
2:46 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Akash Deep to come up for Bumrah
Akash Deep has marked his run-up ahead of toss at 3 PM IST (10:30 AM local time). If he is playing, then Akash would be like-to-like replacement for Jasprit Bumrah.
2:37 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Will overcast conditions affect India's selection choices?
There have been overcast conditions at Edgbaston in Birmingham. In the week leading up to the India vs England 2nd Test, the sun was shining, but it is now behind the clouds as we await the toss and the announcement of India’s playing XI.
2:28 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: England Playing 11
The hosts have chosen to retain the same XI that secured victory in the Leeds opener. This means Jofra Archer will not make his Test comeback just yet, though he will remain with the squad over the weekend to stay connected with the Test-match environment.
Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
2:17 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Who will bat at number 3 if Sudharsan is dropped today?
With Washington Sundar and Nitish Reddy included, India—eager to level the series after going 0-1 down—will field three all-rounders, with Ravindra Jadeja being the most experienced of the trio. This shift from specialist to all-rounder has reshaped India’s top order within weeks. With Sai Sudharsan left out, Karun Nair, who batted at No. 6 in the last Test, moves up to No. 3, and Jadeja climbs a spot in the batting order.
1:46 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: India to make three changes in their XI?
India might make three changes in their Playing 11 from previous match.
While Washington Sundar is expected to replace Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Reddy might come in for Shardul Thakur while Akash Deep could be preferred as an apt replacement for Jasprit Bumrah.
While Washington Sundar is expected to replace Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Reddy might come in for Shardul Thakur while Akash Deep could be preferred as an apt replacement for Jasprit Bumrah.
1:31 PM
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Why Shubman Gill wants to pick spinner?
The unpredictable nature of the Dukes ball—particularly its tendency to go soft after 40 overs—has emerged as a significant hurdle for Shubman Gill's India in the ongoing series in England.
To adapt to these changing conditions, Gill has been seeking advice from experienced teammates like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja, all of whom have toured England multiple times and observed how the Dukes ball has evolved over the past seven to eight years.
India felt the absence of a second spinner acutely on Day 5 in Leeds, where England chased down a challenging 371-run target with ease to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
India's pacers were expected to deliver during the fourth-innings defence, but aside from Jasprit Bumrah, none could make an impact. By the time the second new ball became available, the match was already slipping out of reach.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Gill expressed his inclination to field an additional spinner during the crucial 40–60 over phase, rather than relying on a pacer who might struggle to contain England’s aggressive batting lineup.
“I’ve spoken to players from the 2018–19 series, and they mentioned the balls were a bit different back then. Even during the 2021 series, the ball behaved differently—it stopped doing much between overs 40 and 60, but then picked up again slightly from 60 to 80,” the skipper explained.
1:09 PM
Bell noted that India would need to decide between playing Washington Sundar, who can support Ravindra Jadeja with control and depth in batting, or opting for Kuldeep Yadav, who brings greater wicket-taking potential to the table.
2nd Test | ENG vs IND Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Kuldeep offers x-factor against England's tail - Bell
Former England batter Ian Bell believes that while spin may not play a major role in the early stages of the Test, it is likely to become a key factor as the game moves into the latter days.
“The pitch won’t offer turn early on, but by Day 4 or 5, it could start to assist spinners,” Bell said.
India must choose between control and aggression
Bell noted that India would need to decide between playing Washington Sundar, who can support Ravindra Jadeja with control and depth in batting, or opting for Kuldeep Yadav, who brings greater wicket-taking potential to the table.
Kuldeep offers x-factor against England's tail
Bell feels there is a compelling argument to include Kuldeep in the XI, especially given his current form.
“Kuldeep is bowling beautifully. A bowler who can turn it both ways is always a serious threat—particularly against England’s lower order,” he said.
Topics : India vs England India cricket team England cricket team ICC World Test Championship Test Cricket
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First Published: Jul 02 2025 | 9:31 AM IST
