๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ ๐๐
England
India
England will look for another win when they face India in the 2nd Test of the tour at Edgbaston. After chasing down over 370 runs in the fourth innings at Leeds, the hosts will carry a lot of confidence into this game. Englandโs top order clicked well, and their approach with the bat was aggressive but calculated. However, their bowling still needs more consistency apart from bursts of individual brilliance.ย
India will aim to bounce back in the series after a loss. Their batting lineup did most things right in the first Test, with 5 centuries across two innings. But the bowlers failed to defend a big target. Bumrahโs five-wicket haul in the first innings was the only major positive with the ball.
Recent head-to-head numbers favour India, with 4 wins in the last 5 Tests. But form and momentum are currently with England after the comeback win at Headingley.
With Bumrah being rested and Archer returning to strengthen Englandโs attack, the home sideโs bowling unit looks better placed to dominate in this Test match.
The betting tip is...
Top Bowler's Team - England
61 %
39 %
EnglandIndiaEngland will rely on their best batter, Joe Root, who averages close to 60 in his last 10 Tests and finished as the top scorer in the previous WTC cycle.
Harry Brook missed a century by just one run in the first Test and will look to convert his good starts into big scores. Ollie Pope scored a first-innings hundred, while Ben Duckett hit 149 in the second innings at Leeds.
Jofra Archer hasnโt played a Test since 2021 and is expected to return after missing the West Indies ODIs due to a thumb injury. Chris Woakes could make way for him.
Josh Tongue will retain his place after taking 7 wickets in the first Test. Stokes will back Shoaib Bashir as the lead spinner. Brydon Carse is likely to be picked as the pace-bowling all-rounder ahead of Jamie Overton.
Duckett, Root and Archer are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Josh Tongue.
India is expected to make changes to their bowling unit after a below-par performance in the previous Test. Jasprit Bumrah, who was the most effective bowler, could be rested to manage his workload across the series.
Arshdeep Singh is likely to make his Test debut and will be the only left-arm seamer in the match. Mohammed Siraj is expected to retain his place. One of Prasidh Krishna or Akash Deep will be picked to complete the pace trio.ย
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will continue as openers after centuries in the first Test. Shubman Gill will lead the team and bat at number four, with Sai Sudharsan continuing at number three. Rishabh Pant, coming off twin centuries, will keep wickets. Karun Nair and Nitish Kumar Reddy will slot into the middle order, while Ravindra Jadeja will add balance with his all-round abilities.
Jaiswal, Rahul and Gill are the key players.
Predicted Lineup: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep or Prasidh Krishna.
England will come in with confidence after the first Test win. Their batters looked settled in home conditions, and they will expect similar control in the second Test. If they bat first, they could put up a big total again.
But if they bowl first, they have the attack to test India early on. Jofra Archerโs return adds pace and bounce, while Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes will keep the pressure from both ends.ย
India will miss Bumrahโs experience and will look for another hero in the bowling unit. On a pitch like Edgbaston, Englandโs bowling unit looks a bit stronger to pick up regular wickets across both innings.
