Key pointers from Shubman Gill press conference ahead of 2nd Test between England and India
Shubman Gill hints at possible bowling changes as India weighs Jasprit Bumrah and spin options ahead of the Edgbaston Test.
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On the eve of the second Test at Edgbaston, all eyes are on Jasprit Bumrah—not just for his fiery pace but for his possible absence. India captain Shubman Gill confirmed that Bumrah is available for selection but remained non-committal about the final XI, keeping the suspense alive for what is shaping up to be a critical contest in the five-Test series.
“We will take the Jasprit Bumrah call this evening. We will decide which spinner plays after looking at the pitch,” Gill told reporters on Tuesday. “Jasprit Bumrah is available. We are trying to find the right combination that can pick 20 wickets and score runs as well.”
India heads into this game carrying the disappointment of their loss in Leeds, where they let a dominant position slip and failed to dismiss England in the final innings. Bumrah’s workload management has further complicated selection discussions, especially with a packed schedule ahead.
“It is difficult,” Gill admitted. “But we’ve picked the best players from India. It’s not an impossible task—other bowlers are good. We have a strong pool.”
Spinners in Focus as Pitch Promises Late Turn
Gill also pointed to the nature of the Edgbaston pitch, which, despite looking green on the surface, has a dry base underneath. That may bring spinners into play later in the match—a factor India is weighing carefully.
“We felt in Leeds that an extra spinner would help contain the flow of runs, especially in the third or fourth innings,” he said, hinting at a possible tactical shift for this game.
See Also: [WATCH]: 'Love watching him 'play'—Ben Stokes praises India batter ahead of ENG vs IND, 2nd Test
Meanwhile, England have confirmed their XI already, sticking with an unchanged side from the first Test match win. Stokes' heightened settled side features Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook; a wicketkeeper in Jamie Smith; and the pace-spin attack of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir.
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Gopi Marisetty
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