IND vs ENG 2nd Test: No Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep In- India Make 3 Changes For Edgbaston Match

Add as a preferred source on Google

IND vs ENG 2nd Test: As India are in action for the ongoing second Test against England at Edgbaston, skipper Shubman Gill confirmed three changes to the playing XI, including the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah at the toss.

Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy have been brought in as India look to bounce back from their defeat in the first Test at Headingley.

At the toss, Gill revealed that he too would have opted to bowl first, had the coin fallen in his favour. "Would've bowled first as well. If there's anything in the wicket, it's in the first day. Three changes - Reddy, Washi and Akash Deep come in. No Bumrah. Just to manage his workload. We did get a good break and this is an important match for us. But the third Test being at Lord's, we think there'll be more in that pitch so we'll use him there," Gill said.

India's decision to rest Bumrah is part of a calculated workload management strategy, given the pacer's pivotal role in the long series. Gill also addressed the selection call regarding the lower order, saying, "We were tempted to play Kuldeep but looking at the last match, our lower order didn't do well, so decided to add some depth to the batting."

The inclusion of Nitish Kumar Reddy was anticipated after assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate gave a strong indication of his selection a day before. "Nitish is very close to getting a game. Obviously, he was fantastic in Australia. Coming into the team and playing the way he did. We just felt on balance for the last game, we wanted to go with the bowling all-rounder, which we thought Shardul was slightly ahead on the bowling front. We're looking at ways of rejigging the puzzle so we can get a batting all-rounder in. And obviously, Nitish is our premium batting all-rounder at the moment. So I would say it's a very good chance to play this Test," said ten Doeschate.

Meanwhile, Washington Sundar caught plenty of attention during India's training sessions. He bowled extended spells alongside Jadeja and Kuldeep, taking on the top-order batters. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and Bumrah were also seen closely observing the proceedings from the background.

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