Arshdeep Singh, India’s left-arm pacer is well known for his light and entertaining character. Whether that’s during making a reel or a video to funnily pronounce the name of a ground or a player’s story, he always takes the top spot in the ranks. He is currently in England with the senior Test side, but is yet to make his red-ball debut even after the first four fixtures.

Arshdeep Singh has shared a funny reel on his Instagram story where, at the end of the opening day of the ongoing Lord’s Test, he has compared the iconic stadium with one of his teammates. He pointed the phone at the ground and then put the screen to the player, who seemed to be enjoying the comparison.

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“Lord’s may Lord k sathe.” The Punjab-born pacer addressed where he made the comparison between the ‘Home of Cricket’ and Shardul Thakur, who is called the Lord of the game, having gained incredible skills of changing the course and route of the game in his team’s favor at any point in time.

Watch: Arshdeep Singh compares Lord’s with Lord Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur played in the opening game of the five-match series in England at Leeds, where the visiting side went on to lose by five wickets as the Ben Stokes-led side made a record fourth-innings successful chase on a flat Headingley surface under the sun. Thakur didn’t enjoy a great time in the contest with both bat and ball.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Arshdeep Singh (@_arshdeep.singh__)

He was a bit casual with the bat in both innings and was part of the lower-order collapse on both occasions, making it incredibly hard for the Indian side to post over 500 runs on the board in the first innings despite Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant’s centuries. On the other hand, Arshdeep is yet to taste the red ball, despite many predicting him to start in the playing eleven from the very first Test.

The 26-year-old has picked up 66 first-class wickets in 37 innings at an average of 30.37 and two five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 6/40 in an innings. With Jasprit Bumrah not going to play one of the last two Tests and Prasidh Krishna not showing any inspirational bowling in the first two games, Arshdeep could make his debut during the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.

On June 29, 2024, Indian Cricket recorded one of the most glorious moments in its cricketing chapter. For the first time since 2007, India were crowned winners of the 2024 T20 World Cup that was jointly held by the United States (US) and the Caribbean nations. The Blues endured a memorable run and remained unbeaten throughout the entirety of the tournament to thump South Africa in a high-voltage final. 

At present, the Indian cricket team is in the UK to compete in a five-match test series against England. Amidst their busy schedule, team India took some time out to relive the unforgettable moment. Ahead of the second Test in Birmingham, the Indian Test team took a pause to celebrate the first anniversary of their triumphant victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. 

The team gathered around in a local restaurant in Birmingham, which featured some of the heroes from the final, such as Jadeja and Arshadeep. Two massive cakes were brought forward and placed on the table. One had the following inscription "Team India", while the other bore the words "Champions T20 WC 2024". Bumrah led from the front by doing the initial honors. After slicing the cake, the pieces were distributed to the rest of the players, who were gleefully seen feasting on it.  

See also: [WATCH] Rohit Sharma shares emotional video to commemorate India's glorious T20 WC title win

Watch the video:

In Birmingham, bringing in one-year anniversary of #TeamIndia's T20 World Cup 🏆 Triumph!

Core memory 🥹 pic.twitter.com/FUUjbKdnHN

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 29, 2025

The mood was light and festive. Despite suffering a demoralizing defeat in the Headingly Test, the players were seen having a light moment. This informal gathering was not merely a celebration of a trophy; it served as a reminder of the progress this group has made.

After enduring years of heartbreaks in the knockout stages of the ICC events, India eventually overcame the jinx in 2024, securing the silverware that had been out of reach for more than ten years. This moment was particularly gratifying for a generation of players who had borne the burden of expectation and disappointment throughout numerous campaigns.

As the dust settles on India's T20 World Cup anniversary, the attention now shifts to the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series, with the visitors currently trailing by 0-1. It remains to be seen whether this spirited reunion can give the team a much-needed spark to roll back the Bazball-led England in the upcoming Edgbaston Test. 

Ace Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be rested for the second Test against England to manage his workload. The five-match Test series continues with the second game scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 2, at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Bumrah was a key player in the first Test at Headingley, claiming five wickets in the first innings. It was a done decision before the series that he would only play three of the five matches for fitness reasons.

India suffered a five-wicket defeat in the first Test as England successfully chased 371 runs on the final day. With Bumrah possibly sitting out the second Test, India will need to rethink their bowling combination. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna are likely to retain their places after playing in the first Test. The team management will have to select a suitable replacement from the reserve fast bowlers, who have been traveling with the squad.

See Also: Out of self realisation Rishabh Pant uninstalled WhatsApp and switched off phone

Of the options, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep are probably the leading candidates to take Bumrah's place. Both pacers are relatively untested at Test level, but they have demonstrated good performances in domestic and A-team cricket. Ultimately, it could come down to conditions at Edgbaston and the team's overall plan. Whether India goes for Arshdeep's left-arm variation or Akash Deep's consistency and pace remains to be seen.

Arshdeep making debut?

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who received his maiden Test call-up, is yet to debut in the format for India. Despite this, he holds an impressive first-class record with 66 wickets from 21 matches. Arshdeep also got some experience playing County Cricket for Kent in 2023 and picked up 13 wickets in the five County Championship games. His ability to swing the ball both ways makes him a genuine threat, especially up against in-form English opening batsmen like Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett with the new ball.

If selected to replace Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test, Arshdeep could add an attacking dimension. As a left-armer, he would complement the pace attack and offers some differences to England’s top-order, who are set to face an extra pace bowler. As a bowler who performs well in limited-overs cricket, Arshdeep will be trying to show what he can do in red-ball cricket, and the second Test would be an ideal opportunity for him to showcase his abilities and earn his Test cap.

Comeback for Akash Deep

Akash Deep, as opposed to Arshdeep Singh, has already made his Test debut after playing seven matches for India. He captured 15 wickets at an average of 35.20, having made his debut against England in Ranchi in 2024. Akash Deep started well in his first match, taking three wickets, but has since had a mixed bag of performances. He still has a good action and is a competent seam bowler who can make the ball move sideways and is a potential threat to batters in the right conditions.

He also has the added benefit of overseas experience, having played two Tests on India's prior tour of Australia, in which Akash Deep took five wickets, at an average of 54 and an economy rate of 3.46. Nevertheless, at first-class level, he has a decent record already: 128 wickets in 38 matches at an average of 24.19. If India opts for someone with prior Test experience to replace Bumrah, Akash Deep could be a reliable choice.

Cricketwinner's pick will be Arshdeep Singh, making his debut against England in the second Test

While both Arshdeep and Akash Deep are viable options to replace Jasprit Bumrah, given their strengths, Arshdeep appears to hold the edge over his teammate in case the need arises. Given India already have three right-arm fast bowlers in Siraj, Prasidh, and Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep being a left-arm pacer brings a different angle and option that captain Shubman Gill can look up to. 

India struggled to pick up wickets when Bumrah did not fire, which also puts Arshdeep slightly ahead of Akash Deep as an attacking and wicket-taking option given the style of cricket the English batters have been playing with.

Team India’s preparations for the second Test against England in Birmingham took a light-hearted turn when bowling coach Morne Morkel was spotted playfully wrestling with pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep during a net session. The fun moment came as India looked to bounce back in the series, having lost the opening Test in Leeds, where England took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The second Test is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 2, at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

The Indian squad has already reached Birmingham and has begun training in earnest. During one of the practice sessions, cameras captured Morne Morkel engaging Arshdeep Singh in a friendly wrestling tussle, which soon turned into a fun three-way battle as Akash Deep joined in. The moment brought smiles to the faces of the support staff and players, helping ease the tension in the camp following their defeat at Headingley.

Neither Arshdeep Singh nor Akash Deep featured in India’s playing XI for the first Test, where the team opted to go with Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj as their main pace options. Whether the second Test sees changes in the bowling lineup remains to be seen, but the team appears to be in good spirits heading into the clash.

“Pressure is Mounting on Gautam Gambhir”: Aakash Chopra on India’s Red-Ball Struggles

Meanwhile, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra voiced concerns about the growing pressure on head coach Gautam Gambhir amid India’s poor performances in Test cricket. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra remarked, "Everyone will be questioned. It's cricket's principle in our country. If things go well, everyone is given credit, but when things go wrong, criticism is absolutely obvious. I will still be more patient with Gill because he has become the captain just now. So he will take time to understand things. However, the pressure is mounting on Gautam Gambhir."

Watch the video here

The WWE fight between Arshdeep Singh and Morne Morkel in today's practice at Birmingham. 😀❤️ (Raysportz Cricket).

pic.twitter.com/iad875ozyS

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 28, 2025

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Chopra highlighted India’s underwhelming record in red-ball cricket under Gambhir’s tenure, saying, "If you look at his returns in red-ball cricket, you will find that he has won very few matches. They won two matches against Bangladesh, one against Australia, lost three against New Zealand, then lost three against Australia, and then lost one against England. So we are only losing, we aren't winning." As the team regroup itself for the second Test, all eyes will be on both players and management in making it a turnaround.

After a hard-fought start to the Test series, India might need to consider a few tactical tweaks to keep their edge intact. While the team has shown resilience, a few underperforming spots and strategic imbalances have raised eyebrows. With key moments coming up in the series, there’s talk of changes to the playing XI and names like Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Arshdeep Singh are at the center of that conversation.

Karun Nair’s return to the squad came as a surprise to many. Though he brings experience and a triple century to his name, his long break from the Test setup and recent form have left room for debate. India could instead opt for Dhruv Jurel, a promising young wicketkeeper-batter. With Rishabh Pant playing solely as a batter post-recovery, including Jurel would bring better balance to the side giving India a solid glove-man and a dependable lower-order batter.

The second change could involve bringing in Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Shardul Thakur. While Shardul has often stepped in as a “bits-and-pieces” player, his recent outings have lacked bite with both bat and ball. NKR, on the other hand, has been making noise with consistent performances in domestic cricket and IPL. He’s a pace-bowling all-rounder with a good temperament, and his inclusion could give India an extra edge in seamer-friendly conditions.

ALSO READ: ENG vs IND: Monty Panesar backs Kuldeep Yadav’s selection for second Test

Tactical Changes That Could Give India the Balance and Firepower They Need

In the pace department, Prasidh Krishna has raw pace but has struggled with control. Arshdeep Singh, with his left-arm variation and ability to swing the ball both ways, offers a more reliable option. His white-ball experience under pressure and his calmness in tense moments make him a strong pick for red-ball cricket too.

These changes aren’t just about fixing what’s broken they’re about refining a winning combination. With these three swaps, India could field a team that’s better suited for the conditions, more balanced across departments, and ready to finish games strong. The talent is there now it’s about making the right calls at the right time.

As the highly anticipated Test series between India and England draws near, senior Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has shared his predicted playing XI for the opening match starting Friday. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rahane surprised many by including young players Arshdeep Singh and Sai Sudharsan in his lineup. The selection reflects a blend of youth and form, with Rahane opting for performers who impressed in warm-up matches and domestic cricket.

Notably, Rahane left out experienced names such as Karun Nair and pacer Prasidh Krishna. Instead, he chose wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel as a middle-order option and backed Shardul Thakur for his all-round contributions, particularly after a strong showing in the intra-squad warm-up game. At the top, Rahane placed his confidence in Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul as openers, while debutant Sai Sudharsan was given the critical No. 3 slot.

Skipper Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, and Rishabh Pant form the backbone of the middle order, adding depth and flexibility. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur provide dual skills as all-rounders, while the pace department features three fast bowlers—Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh—forming a well-rounded attack.

Gill on bowling strength and India's selection strategy

Ahead of the series opener, Indian captain Shubman Gill emphasized the importance of bowling in red-ball cricket, underlining that taking 20 wickets is the key to winning a Test. “Yes, definitely in Test matches, if you want to win a Test match, you can't win a Test match without taking 20 wickets no matter how many runs you score,” Gill said at the pre-match press conference. “That has been one of our key discussion points: how we will take 20 wickets.”

Gill also revealed that the team management is weighing its options regarding team balance. "There might be a case where we go with six pure batters, and you will see a bowling all-rounder and three or four premier fast bowlers," he explained. With conditions expected to differ slightly from the usual English summer, the team is approaching its combination with caution and flexibility.

Ajinkya Rahane’s Predicted XI for 1st Test vs England:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has shed light on the importance of managing Jasprit Bumrah's workload, especially ahead of the five-match Test series against England. With speculation rising over Bumrah's availability for the entire series, Arun emphasized that striking the right balance will be key. This isn’t the first time Bumrah’s workload has sparked debate before a big tour. Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has already mentioned that Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests, although a final decision on which matches he will feature in hasn’t been made yet.

Speaking to RevSportz, Arun explained that both overuse and underuse of a fast bowler could result in injuries. "Too much bowling and too little bowling both cause injuries. They are the perfect recipe for a bowler to get injured," Arun pointed out. He added that while the team cannot control the number of overs Bumrah bowls in a match, they can regulate his training workload based on match performance. “According to the number of overs bowled, the practice sessions can be trimmed down for him... It can be a strengthening session in the gym or some recovery work with physios,” he said.

Arun also addressed the speculation about whether Bumrah could play all five Tests. While he didn’t rule out the possibility, he stressed that it would depend on the support from the rest of the bowling attack. If Bumrah is forced to carry the main burden, he may not be able to feature in every game. Arun remarked that managing Bumrah’s workload based on the flow of the series rather than pre-deciding breaks will be the best approach.

Arshdeep Singh Backed as Third Pacer

In addition to discussing Bumrah, Arun also shared his thoughts on India’s pace combination. He strongly backed Arshdeep Singh as the third-choice seamer behind Mohammed Siraj and Bumrah. “I will definitely go with Arshdeep because he is a left-armer, and not many players even get to prepare against left-armers in the nets. If there's a skillful left-armer, he becomes all the more potent,” Arun explained.

See Also: Watch: Indian cricket team arrives in Leeds ahead of first Test against England

He further added that the choice between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur would depend on their form and performance closer to the match. “Both can bowl 130-plus. Shardul can bat too. Who is bowling and batting well at that time becomes important,” Arun concluded.

Team India, using all of their tools to structure a hard and sustainable foundation, is set to introduce multiple new additions in the playing XI for the first Test match of the five-match series starting on June 20 against England at Leeds.

To get acclimatized to the English conditions, BCCI has sent two different sets of players to the UK—the India 'A' team followed by the main team. A video shared by the Indian Cricket Team's official social media account caught the eyes of Indian cricket fans.

It is speculated that in the video, head coach of team India, Gautam Gambhir, provided hints about the probable playing combination for the Headingley Test. Ahead of this important game, Gambhir welcomed Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh as the new candidates of the squad and Karun Nair, who made his Team India comeback almost after seven years. While welcoming these three cricketers into the main squad, Gambhir heaps praise on all of them. That event and welcome speeches by the head coach are treated as hints about the possible playing XI for the first Test match of the tour by a part of cricket fans.

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Who can play?

Apart from Sudharshan, Nair, and Arshdeep, as the senior players of the squad, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja can be placed in the XI. As per reports, Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal can form the opening pair in Leeds. Captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant are the automatic choices. Jasprit Bumrah has been doing extremely well in the nets and can play the first game along with Mohammed Siraj.

Selection of the pace bowling all-rounder can be tricky, as Shardul Thakur has the experience but was unimpressive against England Lions in comparison with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has less experience but looked promising against the Lions. So for now, Reddy can be fortunate enough to get a place in the playing group. 

India's probable playing XI for the first match:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. 

Jasprit Bumrah will be rested for two matches during the 5-match Test series against England, starting on June 20. During the absence of Bumrah, someone needs to take a step forward to take the leadership of India's pace bowling attack. The main squad of India and India A team is in the UK with a bunch of fresh talents in the Whites. Ahead of the series, the Indian camp will play an intrasquad match, where players from both setups will get the stage to show their talents face-to-face with their teammates. 

Bowlers with qualities to find a place in first XI against England

Arshdeep Singh 

Apart from Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh has been a fan favorite for a long time. If he proves himself in the nets, then probably he could get his Test cap in the series against England. Singh has played in England before in Kent, so he has a brief experience playing in English conditions. 

Read More: List of players who have played for Yorkshire County Club ft Ruturaj Gaikwad

Anshul Kamboj 

From the India A team, another bowler who has impressed pretty much is Anshul Kamboj. This right-handed bowler from Haryana proved more effective in longer formats than in shorter format matches. The all-rounder has played both multi-day matches against England Lions and pocketed a total of 5 games. In the second unofficial test, Kamboj grabbed 4 scalps. His bowling looked more controlled and right on the spot. The bowler, who stands over 6 ft 2 inches, is now considered one of the future prospects for Indian cricket. 

Prasidh Krishna 

Another tall seamer in the mix, he polished his skills over the years a lot. Prasidh Krishna can be a contender to sneak into the playing eleven against England. In his last Test match against Australia in Sydney, he took 6 wickets. For Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, Krishna showed his brilliance by snatching 25 wickets in 15 matches. 2025 can be the year for the Karnataka-born to redefine himself. 

On Monday, June 9, Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh shared a light-hearted moment from the team’s training session in England, giving teammate Mohammed Siraj a playful new nickname, “Green Forest.” Posting a video on Instagram, Arshdeep joked: “Kuch der practice karke haate hai, mai aur Green Forest. Siraj bhai ka naya naam Green Forest.” (“After some practice, we’re done, " said Green Forest and. Siraj bhai’s new name is Green Forest.”)

The video entertained the fans, giving everyone a glimpse into the very close-knit chemistry in the Indian camp as they prepare for a crucial red-ball challenge. India is in England for a five-match Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. Before that, they'll play a warm-up game at Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham from June 13 to 16.

This tour will kick off a new era in Indian Test cricket, as with stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both retiring from the format in May, this will be the first Test series played by India without the two. Shubman Gill will be appointed as captain and Rishabh Pant as vice-captain.

Siraj and Arshdeep Lead India's New-Look Pace Attack

Mohammed Siraj is still the main man in the pace attack. Since making his debut in 2020 against Australia, he has played 36 Tests, picking 100 wickets at an average of 30.74. His best bowling figures of 6/15 were against South Africa earlier this year. Against England, Siraj has played six Tests, picking 23 wickets.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Kiwi pacer imitates India's 360 with a signature Supla Shot

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A post shared by Arshdeep Singh (@_arshdeep.singh__)

Arshdeep Singh, who has not yet made his Test debut, has gone about his business steadily in domestic red-ball cricket. In 21 first-class games, he has taken 66 wickets, including two five-fors. He also picked up some experience while playing for Kent in the County Championship a year ago, taking 13 wickets from five games.

With a young captain, fresh energy, and a pace battery ready to fire, India’s Test side enters a transitional phase. Amid the serious cricket ahead, Arshdeep’s nickname for Siraj added a touch of humor, reminding fans that behind the intensity, there’s always room for camaraderie.