India's Playing XI Puzzle: Reddy and Sundar in Contention as Bumrah, Kuldeep May Be Rested
Selection Shake-up: Who’s In, Who’s Out?
Nitish Kumar Reddy: On the Brink of Inclusion
Nitish Kumar Reddy, the young batting all-rounder, appears poised to make his second Test appearance. With solid performances during the Australia tour and an active presence in the nets at Birmingham, Reddy seems to have earned the selectors’ trust. India’s management has hinted at bringing in a batting all-rounder to strengthen the lower order and provide depth—making Reddy a strong contender.
Washington Sundar: All-Round Balance
Washington Sundar is also in line for a recall. His dual skill set—off-spin and capable batting—is well-suited to Edgbaston’s pitch, which is expected to assist spinners as the game progresses. He’s been given significant time in practice sessions, bowling alongside Jadeja and Kuldeep, and batting long spells. An additional spinner with batting credentials could prove invaluable.
Shardul Thakur Relegated
In contrast, Shardul Thakur’s future in the XI is uncertain. After a quiet outing at Leeds, where he offered limited support with both bat and ball, he appears to be the odd man out as India revamp the lower order.
⚠️ The Bumrah Conundrum
The biggest selection question revolves around Jasprit Bumrah. Fully fit and available, Bumrah’s inclusion is still uncertain due to a strategic plan to rotate him across only three of the five Tests. With a heavy workload during the first Test (bowling 43+ overs) and a back issue earlier in the year, India’s management must balance the immediate need to level the series with their long-term strategy.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate indicated the decision might come “last-minute.” While his presence would certainly enhance India’s chances, there’s a strong case for resting him now and saving him for the Lord’s Test, where his influence will be especially potent.
🌀 Spin vs Pace: Tactical Pivot
Without Bumrah, India are expected to:
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Retain Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj as frontline seamers.
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Choose between Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep as the third seamer—each offering different pace and swing profiles.
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Field two spinners: Jadeja will lead with possible slots for Washington, and a toss-up between Kuldeep Yadav and Sundar.
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Kuldeep Yadav brings wrist-spin variety and has delivered in current conditions.
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Washington Sundar adds batting depth – a valuable asset in the lower order.
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🎯 What This Means on the Field
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Batting Resilience
The loss of lower-order runs hurt India at Leeds. Reddy and Sundar, with their batting prowess, could shore things up and lengthen innings. -
Bowling Diversity
India’s seamers will need to perform without their strike pacer, while a two-pronged spin attack could break partnerships as Edgbaston turns. Kuldeep’s wrist spin may prove decisive. -
Series Momentum
With England coming off a historic comeback, India need a strong start in Birmingham. A tactically astute XI may cut deep into England’s batting.
🧠 Possible Indian Playing XI
| Role | Player(s) |
|---|---|
| Openers | Shubman Gill, Abhimanyu Easwaran/KL Rahul |
| Middle Order | Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant |
| All‑rounders | Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| Main Spinners | Washington Sundar + (Kuldeep Yadav?) |
| Seamers | Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash/Arshdeep |
Where the fourth seamer depends on pitch and weather conditions.
🧱 England’s Setup: Controlled and Confident
England have retained the XI that secured victory at Headingley, showing faith in their approach. Without Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir form the seam attack. In clean, traditional fashion, this consistency highlights England’s confidence in their pace bench and their Bazball-forward mindset.
🔮 Key Factors to Watch
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Pitch Conditions: Will the track support spin later on? Likely yes – hence the spin-heavy setup.
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Bumrah Withdrawal: India’s lead seamer rested or risked under long-term load?
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Power of Wrist Spin: Kuldeep’s inclusion could bring unpredictability; Washington covers with batting punch.
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Seam “Plan B”: Without Bumrah, second seamer role will be a tactical test.
📝 Final Take
The selection jigsaw for India's second Test centers on balancing immediate series needs with player longevity. Adding batting depth with Reddy and Sundar while accommodating a dual-spinner attack reflects a clever attempt to aggressively counterbalance England's strong seam play—especially if Bumrah is rested.
This is more than just a reshuffle; it’s a tactical evolution—team India adapting to conditions and managing personnel to hit hard where it counts. And if these tweaks click, India could rewrite the series narrative from behind.