Ravi Shastri believes the Edgbaston Test is crucial for India in the ongoing series. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has emphasized the importance of retaining Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI for the second Test. The match between England and India is scheduled to take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting July 2.
In the first Test at Headingley, while most Indian bowlers struggled, Jasprit Bumrah stood out. The right-arm pacer took a five-wicket haul in the first innings, playing a key role in dismantling England’s top order. However, in the second innings, he went wicketless as the English batters adopted a more cautious approach during their 371-run chase.
Interestingly, some reports suggest that Jasprit Bumrah may be rested for the Edgbaston Test to manage his workload. Prior to the 2025 tour of England, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Indian selectors had indicated that Jasprit Bumrah would feature in only three of the five Tests in the series.
Ravi Shastri Calls for Jasprit Bumrah’s Inclusion in Second Test
In a conversation with The ICC Review, former cricketer and commentator Ravi Shastri emphasized the need for India to bounce back in the second Test. He specifically recommended that India include Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI, highlighting the significance of the upcoming match.
“The most crucial thing for India now is to respond quickly. Losing a Test like this—where you dominated most of the game but then lost on the final day due to a big chase—requires a lot of character to recover and fight back in the series. Full credit to England for maintaining their composure and pulling it off,” Shastri said.
“Whether Jasprit Bumrah plays or not is uncertain, but hopefully he does, as this Test is very important. It’s not over yet; you take it one game at a time. It’s a five-match series, and India will be aiming to come back strong,” he added.
Meanwhile, pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep, who missed the first Test, have been working hard in training ahead of the second Test. With India’s bowling unit struggling to control the English batsmen in the opening match, changes to the lineup seem likely for Edgbaston.
On the other hand, England have named an unchanged XI for the second Test. Though pacer Jofra Archer was added to the squad, he has been rested for this game. England currently lead the five-match series 1-0.
