Edgbaston, July 1, 2025 —
IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Jaiswal Hits 50, India 98/2 at Lunch – Bumrah Rested, Akash Debuts
It’s hard to describe the energy that filled Edgbaston this morning. India, already trailing 0-1 in the five-match Test series, walked in knowing this wasn’t just another game — it was a must-win. And just when things couldn’t feel more tense, came the news: Jasprit Bumrah, their pace leader, wasn’t playing. Rested, apparently, to manage his workload.
Fair enough, but still — fans felt the pinch. India’s record at Edgbaston hasn’t been great, and without Bumrah, the challenge felt steeper. But sometimes, it’s these moments — when everyone doubts — that a team finds its fight.
However, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal stood tall, scoring a confident half-century in testing conditions, guiding India to 98/2 at lunch on Day 1, as clouds hovered and the pitch offered movement.
♠️ Important Call: Akash Deep Makes Test Debut, Bumrah Rests
Before the toss, the biggest headline was the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah as part of workload management. After hitting 5/83 in the first innings of the Headingley Test, Bumrah looked a little off-color in the second.
Given his recent comeback from injury and the tight schedule — with the third Test starting just four days later at Lord’s — the team management strategically decided to keep him fresh for conditions at Lord’s, which may assist fast bowling more than Edgbaston.
In Bumrah’s absence, Akash Deep was handed a maiden Test cap, becoming the latest pacer to join India’s ever-growing fast-bowling pool. He brought depth to the spin and all-round department with the addition of Washington Sundar (replacing Shardul Thakur) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (in place of Sai Sudharsan).
🧢 Shubman Gill at Toss: “This Year Has Been Full of Surprises”
India’s captain Shubman Gill, leading the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma, won the toss and chose to bat first — a bold decision considering India’s poor record at Edgbaston (7 losses and 1 draw in 8 matches).
“It’s a big match for us, but we’re thinking ahead to Lord’s as well. There might be more in that wicket, so we’re holding Bumrah back,” Gill explained
He also expressed optimism about breaking the Edgbaston jinx:“
This year, many underdogs have triumphed. Maybe this is our turn to rewrite the story.”
🏏 First Session Highlights: England’s Seamers Test India’s Top Order
With overhead conditions favoring swing and seam, England captain Ben Stokes had no hesitation choosing to bowl first after winning the toss.
England didn’t have to wait long to see their decision pay off. With cloudy skies and a juicy pitch, their bowlers were right on the money from the first over. The Indian batters had to work hard for every run, and the pressure was obvious.
🎯 KL Rahul’s Tough Morning at the Crease
You could tell early on that KL Rahul wasn’t quite himself. He walked out looking steady but never really settled. His footwork felt unsure, his timing was off, and the scoreboard showed it — just 2 runs from 26 balls.
It wasn’t that he was reckless, but more like he was stuck, trying to figure out whether to play or leave. By the time the breakthrough came, it didn’t feel surprising — just unfortunate.
Eventually, it was Chris Woakes, England’s ever-reliable swing bowler, who broke through. After a series of LBW appeals and consistent line-and-length, Woakes clean-bowled Rahul, who played the ball onto his own stumps.
🧠Chris Woakes’ Magic: Control, Frustration, and Breakthrough
hris Woakes was outstanding during the morning session. He bowled five overs, gave up few runs, and exerted constant pressure.
He had multiple close calls for LBW, including a tight DRS call against Yashasvi Jaiswal, which went against him.
Despite being visibly frustrated — even muttering to himself on the big screen after umpire decisions — Woakes kept hitting the perfect patch just in front of the right-hander, generating movement and bounce.
Eventually, his persistence paid off, and he walked away with the crucial wicket of KL Rahul — well-earned after several close shaves.
