IND vs ENG: After losing the first Test match in Headingley by five wickets, the second Test match which would be held in Edgbaston from July 2, is considered a do-or-die match for the Men in Blue during the five-match Test series against England, and the result of the upcoming match would set the foundation for the rest of the series.
The visitors have already started their practice session for the upcoming Test match, where head coach Gautam Gambhir will be testing all the options before making some changes in the playing XI, where all eyes will be on Jasprit Bumrah’s availability.
Before the match, a familiar face was seen during the training session on Saturday, which led to speculations as to whether the team management was thinking of making yet another last-minute addition to the side. They had earlier picked Harshit Rana as the 19th player on the side ahead of the series opener in Headingley. The pacer, who played in his debut Test match against Australia last year and had also represented the country in white-ball cricket, wasn’t originally part of the Test squad.
Punjab Kings bowler Harpreet Brar was seen bowling during the training session on Saturday along with Washington Sundar. But he didn’t wear Team India’s official training kit and that emphasized that he was just invited to Team India’s practice session to help the Indian batters prepare for the second Test match. Instead of being included in the Test side, Brar, who hasn’t made his international debut yet, was just there as a net bowler.
The team management including another player to the side would be considered as far-fetched as they have three spinners in the team- and of those two are all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Sundar and leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. If a spinner gets injured then including Brar in the side won’t make any sense.
Including Brar as a net bowler shows the team management’s assessment of how the surface in Edgbaston during the second Test match. The pitch is expected to be pacers-friendly. Since the last 10 matches, the variety has taken 80 percent of wickets-230 of 289 at this venue. The same trend is going to continue since the hosts are thinking of including Jofra Archer in their playing XI ahead of the second Test match.
As far as the visitors are concerned, speculations are rife about Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the second Test match and whether Kuldeep Yadav would replace him as the chances are high that he might play in the second Test match in Edgbaston.