India tour of England 2025 | Second Test | Preview and Predictions

Despite a strong batting show from their new-look Test squad, India suffered a harrowing defeat in the opening Test. Moving to Birmingham, Shubman Gill will want his bowlers to put up a better fight, with the hosts looking to go 2–0 up in the series.

Ahead of the second Test between England and India in Birmingham, here are our preview and predictions.

India tour of England 2025 | 2nd Test | 15:30 IST, July 2–6

Coming into the series, the biggest doubts hanging over the Indian squad were about their inexperienced batting line-up given the recent Test retirements of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

However, new Test captain Shubman Gill and his batting unit stood tall and answered those questions emphatically as India registered 350+ in both innings, featuring five individual centuries. Gill himself led from the front with a century in the first innings, as did Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, the latter shining in particular with two centuries in the game. KL Rahul stepped up well in the second innings.

On a relatively flat Leeds wicket, most Indian batters had a good outing barring debutant Sai Sudharsan and the returning Karun Nair, who were the only strugglers in the top order. Given their positions in the batting order — No. 3 and No. 5, respectively — Gill will expect more from both, especially given that the lower order and tail failed miserably with the bat. At Edgbaston, where the ball will do a bit more than it did in Leeds, the Indian batting lineup will be under the microscope, with the experienced players expected to shoulder more responsibility. 

It was India’s bowling and fielding that let them down in the last game. Regarded as one of the better modern-day fielding units, India dropped an array of catches, which coupled with lacklustre bowling saw them lose a Test many would deem unloseable.

Jasprit Bumrah, India’s go-to man with the ball, was the only highlight thanks to his five-wicket haul in the first innings, but he and the rest of the pack could do little in the second innings as they failed to defend 371. Based on the form shown in the first Test, Shardul Thakur may be left out of the playing XI in Birmingham, with Nitish Kumar Reddy the likely candidate to replace him given his batting prowess. Kuldeep Yadav is another option for Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir, though the left-arm spinner has a woeful record in England. 

The hosts, on the other hand, had a perfect game. Not only did their batters step up, but on a track that didn’t have much assistance for the bowlers, the English bowlers were able to take 20 wickets. Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse impressed, while captain Ben Stokes stepped up when his team needed him in the first innings. Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Joe Root all got runs under their belts as England cruised through the run chase on the final day to pick up a five-wicket win. 

The Edgbaston pitch will provide bowlers with more assistance than the Headingley one. The Indian batting unit, having had a strong outing in the first Test, will need to be wary of the moving ball. Once again, we give England the edge for this encounter, with Stokes & Co likely to go 2–0 up in the series against India’s flat bowling line-up. 

Fantasy XI: Ben Duckett, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Harry Brook, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jasprit Bumrah

Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Winners Prediction: England