India’s Best XI Without Bumrah for Edgbaston Test | July 2025 Preview

By Rohit - Jun 27, 2025 05:02 PM
Last updated on Jun 27, 2025 05:03 PM

India will take the field at Edgbaston on July 2 without their premier pacer. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s leading wicket-taker and a force in the first Test, is scheduled to sit out as part of his workload management. To navigate that challenge, here’s the strongest XI India can field in his absence:

India’s Playing XI – 2nd Test vs England (without Bumrah):

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. KL Rahul
3. B Sai Sudharsan
4. Shubman Gill (c)
5. Rishabh Pant (wk)
6. Karun Nair
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Kuldeep Yadav
9. Akash Deep
10. Prasidh Krishna
11. Mohammed Siraj

Why This XI Makes Sense at Edgbaston?

Leaving out Bumrah is a blow, but India’s depth offers creative solutions. Begin with the top five: Jaiswal, Rahul, Sudharsan, and Gill offer youth talent with a point to prove. Pant will return for his attacking wicketkeeping and middle-order muscle. Karun Nair chips in with both bat and some seam support.

The bowling setup focuses on pace and numbers. Siraj remains the new spearhead. After 2 wickets in Leeds, he showed the temperament to lead. Prasidh Krishna’s raw pace and bounce are crucial; 5 wickets in India’s innings revealed his ability to unsettle batters, even if control was mixed.

Akash Deep gets the nod over Arshdeep Singh, his red-ball experience outweighs the latter’s white-ball promise. Deep’s seven Test outings have garnered 15 wickets; not spectacular, but solid depth. Kuldeep Yadav, a left-arm wrist-spinner, rounds out the attack. His inclusion favors spin-friendly formations and control, especially when England bat deep in their lineup.

Ravindra Jadeja gives all-around balance: vital lower-order runs and reliable spin. This XI combines aggression and stability, something India needs at Edgbaston, where they’ve yet to taste Test success.

Who Could Replace Jasprit Bumrah?

With Bumrah sidelined, India needs a replacement attack plan. Two possibilities emerge: additional pacers or extra spin. Let’s explore the key contenders.

1. Kuldeep Yadav: Adding Kuldeep brings a spin edge that India didn’t have in Leeds. Heading into Birmingham, where wicket conditions often grip, Kuldeep’s wrist spin could break partnerships and restrict runs. With Jadeja and Kuldeep, India handles pace substitutions without losing variety.
2. Akash Deep: Already part of the XI, Deep adds consistency and a backup pacer with red-ball experience. His introduction of Arshdeep suggests India prefers guys who’ve toured in those conditions, even with average success.
3. Arshdeep Singh: Uncapped in Tests but lethal in shorter formats, his unorthodox left-arm angle could surprise. Yet the risk is a lack of experience in England’s seam-friendly conditions.
4. Harshit Rana: A bowling all-rounder, he offers depth and good bowling; useful in certain contexts, but unlikely to give India already have six bowlers in this XI.

Weak points include reliance on fewer wicket-taking bowlers. Without Bumrah, India must find breakthroughs through pressure rather than pace. Batting depth can fracture if the top four don’t deliver.

England, aware of the change, may pick extra pacers or adjust with spin. India’s spinners must maintain control, while pacers commit fully to new-ball spells.

Shadings between fast and slow conditions must be navigated. Jadeja or Kuldeep must hold up while pacers rotate in workloads.

India’s head coach and support staff must manage fitness and a safe environment. If Deep or Siraj falters early, India may regret not having extra batting depth. Still, the selection indicates India is betting big on bowling control and spin.

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