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The highly anticipated 2nd Test of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 between India and England gets underway at Edgbaston, Birmingham , offering both teams a chance to shift momentum in their favor. After an exhilarating opening match at Headingley where England pulled off a dramatic win despite India scoring five centuries, all eyes are on how each side adapts for this crucial encounter.
England’s aggressive ‘BazBall’ style and home advantage give them an edge, while India will look to rectify their tail-end batting collapse and find consistency with the ball. With the series delicately poised, expect another high-intensity battle that could go into day five.
Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs England – 2nd Test |
| Date | July 2, 2025 |
| Venue | Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham |
| Time | 2:30 PM IST |
| Competition | ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 |
Team Previews
England Preview
England head into the 2nd Test against India with confidence sky-high after pulling off a sensational five-wicket win at Headingley. Their batting approach under Ben Stokes — the ‘BazBall’ philosophy — has been fearless, with players like Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook showing intent and resilience across formats.
In Leeds, Ollie Pope scored 106 and Harry Brook hit 99 , proving their ability to build partnerships under pressure. Captain Ben Stokes led from the front with both bat and ball, taking four wickets in the first innings and anchoring chases when needed.
Their bowling unit is spearheaded by Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse , who offer bounce and movement early. Chris Woakes brings control and experience, while Shoaib Bashir , the young spinner, could come into play if the pitch dries out by day four or five.
England’s strength lies in their aggressive mindset and adaptability — they’re not afraid to chase big totals or score quickly. However, their middle-order remains slightly fragile, and they’ll need more contributions from lower down the order.
With the support of passionate home fans and favorable conditions, England will aim to extend their lead in the series.
India Preview
India were left heartbroken after their Headingley loss , despite posting a record-breaking 359/3 and 373/5 , becoming the first team in history to score over 350 in both innings and still lose the game.
Captain Shubman Gill top-scored with 147 and 58 , showing leadership and composure. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul also contributed heavily with centuries in the first Test, while Rishabh Pant became only the 12th player ever to score two centuries in a Test and end up on the losing side .
However, it was the tail that let India down . The last three wickets added just 33 runs combined , failing to take the total past 400+ in either innings.
India’s bowling department is led by Jasprit Bumrah , who took 5 wickets in the second innings at Headingley and continues to be their go-to bowler in overseas conditions. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna provide seam variety, while Kuldeep Yadav offers spin options on dry tracks.
This time around, India may look to bolster their lower order or include a third spinner depending on the pitch condition. If they can fix their lower-order batting collapse and maintain pressure with the ball, they’ll fancy their chances at Edgbaston.
But the pressure is on — a win here keeps the series alive; a loss makes it nearly impossible.
Favourite Team to Win Today’s Match
| Favourite Team | Reason |
|---|---|
| England | Riding high after stunning Headingley win; Bazball philosophy ensures quick run-scoring. Stokes-led attack with Tongue, Carse, and Shoaib Bashir gives depth. Pitch expected to suit seam early and spin later. India lost despite five centuries in opener — tail-end fragility cost them dearly. England’s pace attack exploits that weakness. Bumrah and Kuldeep must carry the burden for India. Head-to-head record favors England in recent years. While India have talent, England start as favorites due to superior execution, better tail, and home advantage. |
Fantasy Team XI (with Explanation)
| Player Name | Role | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Stokes (c) | Batter / Bowler / Captain | England | Game-changer with bat and ball; leadership role boosts fantasy value. |
| Rishabh Pant (vc) | Batter / Vice-Captain | India | Top scorer in previous Test; explosive finisher and safe fantasy pick. |
| Joe Root | Batter | England | Dependable batter; rotates strike well and averages above 50 in Tests. |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Bowler | India | Star pacer; takes early wickets and maintains pressure. |
| Ollie Pope | Batter | England | Aggressive opener; ideal for late-innings acceleration. |
| Shubman Gill | Batter / Captain | India | Anchor of the innings; calm under pressure and solid striker. |
| Harry Brook | Batter | England | Finisher; useful for late-innings punch and quick runs. |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler | India | Impact spinner; breaks partnerships and keeps it tight. |
| Josh Tongue | Bowler | England | Key pacer; takes early wickets and maintains pressure. |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter | India | Explosive opener; scored century in last Test. |
| Shoaib Bashir | Bowler | England | Smart spinner; picks up key wickets and controls run flow. |
Captain & Vice-Captain Suggestions
- Captain : Ben Stokes (ENG) – In-form all-rounder; likely to impact both innings.
- Vice-Captain : Rishabh Pant (IND) – Explosive striker of the ball and high upside.
Players to Avoid in Fantasy Teams
- Zak Crawley (ENG) – Struggled to convert starts recently; inconsistent performance.
- Prasidh Krishna (IND) – Lacks penetration and impactful returns lately.
Squads
England Squad
- 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 Squad
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Karun Nair
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Shardul Thakur
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
Probable Playing XI
| India | England |
|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Zak Crawley |
| KL Rahul | Ben Duckett |
| Shubman Gill (c) | Ollie Pope |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | Joe Root |
| Virat Kohli | Harry Brook |
| Rishabh Pant (wk) | Ben Stokes (c) |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Jamie Smith (wk) |
| Shardul Thakur | Chris Woakes |
| Mohammed Siraj | Brydon Carse |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Josh Tongue |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Shoaib Bashir |
(Note: Probable XI based on Headingley line-up; changes possible depending on toss and pitch conditions)
Pitch Report
- Venue : Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham
- Average First Innings Score : ~400
- Nature of Pitch : Balanced surface; seam movement early, turn for spinners later. Fast outfield supports strokeplay.
- Expected Target : 450+ considered strong; anything above 400 should be competitive.
- Fielding Advantage : Batting becomes trickier once the pitch dries out and cracks appear.
Toss Prediction
- Likely Outcome : Even chance for either side to win the toss.
- Decision : Bat first. Recent heatwave and dry pitch suggest batting will get harder as the Test progresses; dew isn’t a factor in red-ball cricket.
Winner Prediction
England are our predicted winners of the 2nd Test against India at Edgbaston . They come into the match with series momentum , a strong batting lineup , and a bowling attack that exploited India’s lower order in the first Test.
While India showed incredible batting depth , their tail failed to deliver , and England capitalized . With Stokes, Root, and Woakes leading the charge , and a dry, turning track expected, England’s all-rounders and spinner Shoaib Bashir could prove decisive.
Back England to continue their dominance and push India closer to the edge in this WTC series.
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