One of the most effective tactical decisions India made during the Edgbaston Test against England was including Washington Sundar in place of Kuldeep Yadav. Although the choice surprised many before the match, it proved to be a smart move. Captain Shubman Gill highlighted the need for batting depth and control in spin-friendly conditions. Sundar played a vital role in India’s first innings by scoring 42 runs, adding stability to the lower order. His batting contribution ensured India posted a strong total, which put England under immense pressure early on.

In the second innings, Sundar proved his value again by dismissing England skipper Ben Stokes at a crucial moment. Gill explained that the team wanted a finger spinner who could maintain control and adapt to subcontinent-style pitch behaviour, which Sundar offered. The decision to favour control and consistency over wrist spin flair paid off, as Sundar delivered with both bat and ball. His all-round performance justified his selection, helping India gain a strategic edge and move closer to levelling the five-match Test series.

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"It is very tempting when you have a bowler like Kuldeep. One of the reasons why I wanted to play Washington was because he gives us batting depth. In the first innings, I think the partnership between me and Washington, if it wasn't for that partnership, then our lead would have been 70-80-90 runs, which is psychologically very different from 180,” Gill told during the post-match press conference.

Now we will see what kind of wicket they are giving at Lord's: Shubman Gill

"Even on Day 5, the ball was not moving that much from the middle, it was just moving through the roughness. We thought that maybe if our first batting comes, then maybe on a 5th day wicket, the finger spinner will give us more control if the ball is moving from the wicket and especially on such wickets, sometimes more than fast bowling, the spin gives you more control. So that was our mindset, but now we will see what kind of wicket they are giving at Lord's,"  Gill added.

Shubman Gill explained that even on Day 5, the ball wasn't moving significantly from the center of the pitch but was instead deviating from the rough areas. He said that the team believed if they batted first, a finger spinner would offer better control on a fifth-day surface where spin could be more effective than pace. Gill stated this was the reasoning behind the decision and concluded by saying that the team would assess the pitch conditions at Lord’s before making their selection for the third Test.