India made bold changes for the second Test against England at Edgbaston, resting Jasprit Bumrah to manage his workload and introducing Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep into the playing XI. Bumrah, regarded as India’s premier fast bowler, was left out as part of a pre-planned rotation policy that limits him to three of the five Tests in the series, aiming to preserve his fitness for the crucial third Test at Lord’s. Akash Deep, making his first Test appearance of the year, replaced Bumrah, while Reddy and Sundar came in for Shardul Thakur and Sai Sudharsan respectively, reflecting a strategic shift in both bowling and batting depth.

The decision to rest Bumrah, despite his fitness and a week’s break since the first Test, drew sharp criticism from former players and pundits. Former head coach Ravi Shastri and ex-England captain Michael Atherton questioned the logic of sidelining India’s best bowler in a must-win match, especially given the team's poor run in Test cricket, with only one win in their last nine matches. Captain Shubman Gill, however, defended the move, stating that Bumrah’s presence would be more valuable at Lord’s, where conditions are expected to favor seamers.

India’s other changes aimed at strengthening the lower order, which had suffered dramatic collapses in Leeds, losing 41-7 and 31-6 in the two innings. Washington Sundar, with a Test batting average of 42 and 25 wickets, was brought in to provide all-round stability, while Nitish Kumar Reddy replaced Shardul Thakur, who had struggled with the bat in the previous match. Karun Nair was promoted to number three in the batting order after Sai Sudharsan was dropped following a disappointing debut.

England, meanwhile, won the toss and opted to bowl first on a pitch expected to assist seamers early on, sticking with an unchanged lineup. India’s captain Shubman Gill admitted he would have chosen to bowl as well, highlighting the tactical importance of the toss in overcast Edgbaston conditions. The match setup promises a stern test for India’s revamped lineup as they seek to level the series.