England and India are set to lock horns in the second Test of the ongoing five-match series starting Wednesday at Edgbaston. England head into the match with massive confidence, having outclassed India in the series opener to take a commanding 1-0 lead. Their dominant victory at Headingley has set the tone, and India now find themselves under the pump to respond.

Despite the result going in favour of England, India had their moments in the first Test, particularly with the bat. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill blasted centuries to keep India in the hunt; however, the major concern for the visitors remained their bowlers as they failed to restrict England from chasing a 371-run target. Barring Bumrah, other Indian bowlers struggled to find rhythm and consistency, allowing England to dictate terms. The lack of penetration proved costly for India, which helped England clinch a victory. 

Adding to India’s woes is the uncertainty surrounding their pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah. As part of a broader workload management strategy, the team management is reportedly assessing whether to rest him for the Edgbaston Test. Meanwhile, Bumrah’s presence is crucial — not just for his wicket-taking abilities but also for the control and experience he brings in tough conditions.

Nonetheless, India would aim for a more disciplined performance to make their comeback in the series. While England, who have momentum on their side, will hope to extend their lead. 

Head-to-head

Matches - 137

India won - 35

England won - 52

Drawn - 50

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

India probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah/Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna