Shubman Gill, Gambhir, Agarkar, and Das spent considerable time inspecting the pitch and were seen engaged in a lengthy discussion beside the 22-yard strip.
Shubman Gill, Gambhir, and Selectors Inspect Edgbaston Pitch Ahead of Crucial Second Test
India captain Shubman Gill wasted no time heading to the centre of Edgbaston just moments after wrapping up the pre-match press conference, with less than 24 hours remaining before the second Test against England. Gill briskly walked toward the pitch, soon joined by head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and former India opener Shiv Sunder Das, who now serves on the selection panel.
The quartet spent considerable time closely inspecting the pitch and engaged in an extended discussion beside the 22-yard strip that could play a decisive role in the outcome of this pivotal Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
While England have already named an unchanged XI from their five-wicket win at Leeds and appear unbothered by the nature of the surface, India are likely to let the pitch influence their final playing combination—making the pitch assessment session all the more critical.
Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar and Shivsundar Das take a look at the wicket while having a long chat.@gargiraut15 reports from #Edgbaston @ThumsUpOfficial #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/Ld0T2X6KvP
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) July 1, 2025
In the Bazball era, Edgbaston has become known for producing some of the flattest tracks in Test cricket. Notably, this venue saw England chase down their highest-ever Test target—381—against India. So far, there are no signs that the pitch will behave any differently this time around.
When the Indian team arrived in Birmingham a few days ago, the surface had an even layer of grass. However, as the match draws closer, that green covering has steadily disappeared—hinting at another high-scoring contest and posing tough selection questions for India.
Will India play two spinners in the second Test in Edgbaston?
The typically dry English summers make it challenging for curators to prepare pitches that significantly assist fast bowlers. If the conditions remain this way, India may consider including an extra spinner in the playing XI. Alongside Ravindra Jadeja, India has spin options in all-rounder Washington Sundar and the attacking, wicket-taking Kuldeep Yadav.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, captain Shubman Gill acknowledged that two spinners are uncommon in England but noted the atypical weather. “It rained a lot and the sun was shining. In the last match, if we had an extra spinner in the fourth innings, the game could have been better. There were patches on the wicket we could have exploited,” he said.
Shubman Gill also explained how Jadeja’s bowling helped contain runs more effectively than the pacers, especially as the ball aged and swing diminished. “The wickets were good for batting, so if the fast bowlers aren’t creating enough chances, we feel a second spinner might help contain runs until the second new ball comes,” he added.
However, reflecting on the last match, Shubman Gill concluded that if the pitch remains similar, opting for a second spinner might not be the best choice.
