The build-up to the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was filled with speculation over Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion, but the suspense ended when Indian captain Shubman Gill confirmed at the toss that the left-arm spinner would not be part of the playing XI. The second Test at Edgbaston, starting today (July 2), sees India once again opting for a different combination despite a five-wicket loss in the Leeds series opener, where they played just one spinner—Ravindra Jadeja—alongside four pacers. Kuldeep has an impressive record against England in Tests, with 21 wickets in six matches at an average of 22.28, but his only Test appearance in England remains the 2018 Lord’s game during India’s 1-4 series defeat.

Gill admitted they were tempted to include Kuldeep but instead chose to bolster the batting lineup. "Three changes—Reddy (Nitish), Washi (Sundar), and Akash Deep come in. No Bumrah. Just to manage his workload. Third Test being at Lord's, we think there'll be more in that pitch so we'll use him there. We were tempted to play Kuldeep but decided to add some depth to the batting," he said at the toss (via Cricbuzz). He added, “We wanted to strengthen our batting, and that is why Sundar is included in the team.” The veteran spinner also missed the first Test of the previous England series at home, where India lost in Hyderabad, only for Kuldeep to come back with 19 wickets in the remaining four matches, helping India overturn a 0-1 deficit into a 4-1 series win.

Despite his consistent performances, India has decided to leave Kuldeep once again. His last Test for India was against New Zealand in October 2024 in Bengaluru, where he took three wickets in the first innings and did not take a wicket in the second innings. India lost that match by eight wickets, and Kuldeep was then dropped for the next two Tests. A subsequent injury kept him out of the Australian Test tour as well.

See Also: Ravichandran Ashwin questions Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill's focus on taking 20 wickets

Kuldeep's Continued Test Snub Despite Strong Record

India's performance without Kuldeep has been lackluster, having lost six of their last eight Tests since the Bengaluru fixture. Despite an outstanding Test average of 22.16, which includes four five-wicket hauls, the 30-year-old has featured in just 13 Test matches since making his debut in 2017. Over seven years, Kuldeep’s red-ball career has been marked more by his absence than his inclusion, raising questions about India's strategy in Tests, particularly overseas.

As India prepares for the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Wednesday, July 2, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has called for bold changes to the playing XI. One of his major suggestions is dropping Shardul Thakur and bringing back wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Manjrekar believes India must shift from their usual fast-bowler-heavy setup and instead focus on quality, even if it means playing multiple spinners in English conditions.

India's batters had their moments in the first Test at Headingley, but their bowling unit couldn’t defend a sizable target of 371 runs in the fourth innings. Manjrekar feels that without Mohammed Shami in the mix, India's pace attack lacks depth and consistency. He specifically called out the performances of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur, stating that apart from Bumrah, India doesn't have the same impact bowlers.

In Manjrekar’s view, India needs to make some tough selection decisions if they want to bounce back in the series. He stated clearly, “Nitish Kumar Reddy, I had included him on my side for the first Test. And Kuldeep Yadav has to come back. I'm sorry to say, but Shardul Thakur has to go out.”

Manjrekar Advocates Spin-Focused Strategy Despite English Conditions

Manjrekar emphasized the importance of picking the best bowlers, regardless of surface or location. “India will have to make a hard call that even in English conditions, they go with quality bowlers, and if the quality bowlers happen to be two spinners, go for it because you don't quite have the luxury of a Shami and some of the other bowlers to pick from.” He also mentioned the increasingly dry nature of English pitches due to global warming, which could support spin.

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“English summers these days are generally dry summers because of global warming. So you know, maybe it’s a way to introduce spin in England. And let’s not forget, Ben Stokes has completely changed his thinking and made it common-sense cricket thinking,” Manjrekar added.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah's availability remains uncertain for the Edgbaston Test. While he was the standout performer in the first Test with a five-wicket haul, team management is cautious due to the tight schedule. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate noted, “He’s available for the game, but we haven’t made a final call yet. It will depend on conditions and how we plan for the rest of the series.” With India trailing 0-1, the second Test is crucial in the context of the five-match series.

In the 22nd match of the MLC 2025, San Francisco Unicorns vs Seattle Orcas (SF vs SEA) has been scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 1 (starting at 04:30 IST on July 2), at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill. 

It will be their second meeting in the MLC 2025. Last Wednesday, they faced each other in Dallas, where Unicorns won by 32 runs by successfully defending their first innings total of 176/8.  

Before their MLC 2025 meeting, they met thrice in the tournament's history. In the MLC 2023, their league stage meeting ended with a 35-run win for Orcas. In the MLC 2024, they faced each other twice in the league stage, where Unicorns won both the matches by 23 runs and six wickets, respectively. 

Both teams will play their eighth match of the season. San Francisco Unicorns are leading the points table with 12 points after seven matches, with six wins and one defeat. Before suffering a 12-run defeat against the defending champions Washington Freedom in their last game, Unicorns won their first six fixtures of the season to secure their place for the playoffs.

On the other hand, the fourth-placed Seattle Orcas have earned four points after seven matches with two wins and five losses. After losing their first five matches of the season, Orcas won their last two games, and they are strongly battling for the playoffs. 

RECORD ALERT: The TSK skipper now holds the record for scoring the most centuries in the MLC

MLC 2025, Match 22: SF vs SEA - Playing XIs Status

Both teams may go with a few changes in their respective playing XIs. Former Australian cricketer David Warner can be given another chance in the Seattle Orcas' squad. 

MLC 2025, Match 22: SF vs SEA Probable Playing XI

San Francisco Unicorns Predicted Playing XI: Matthew Short (Captain), Finn Allen, Jake Fraser McGurk, Jahmar Hamilton (wk), Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hassan Khan, Romario Shephard, Haris Rauf, Xavier Bartlett, Brody Couch/Liam Plunkett, Carmi le Roux

Seattle Orcas Predicted Playing XI: Shayan Jahangir (wk), Aaron Jones, David Warner, Kyle Mayers, Heinrich Klaasen, Shimron Hetmyer, Sikandar Raza (Captain), Harmeet Singh, Waqar Salamkheil, Gerald Coetzee, Jasdeep Singh

England has opted to name an unchanged playing XI for the second Test against India, which begins Wednesday at Edgbaston. Following their thrilling five-wicket victory in the series opener at Headingley, the hosts have decided not to alter the side that chased down a mammoth 371-run target in the fourth innings. The batting heroes of that memorable win were Ben Duckett, who scored a fluent 149, and Ollie Pope, who contributed a crucial 106.

There had been speculation around Jofra Archer’s potential return to red-ball cricket, especially after his inclusion in England’s squad for the five-match series. However, despite that buzz, England resisted the temptation to rush the speedster back into the lineup. Archer, who was absent from the first Test, missed training on Monday due to a family emergency but is expected to rejoin the squad on Tuesday.

Archer's last appearance in a Test match was back in 2021, also against India, in Ahmedabad. Since then, persistent elbow injuries have kept him out of red-ball action. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed his brief absence from training in a statement, emphasizing that the pacer is expected to be available moving forward.

Archer’s Comeback Put on Hold

Jofra Archer's test cricket return remains on standby as the England think tank opts for continuity and trust in a successful unit. The management seems determined to manage Archer's workload effectively, especially given the injury history and the long duration of the series.

See Also: India’s likely XI for 2nd Test vs England revealed at in practice session photos?

The unchanged XI means another opportunity for young pacers like Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue to continue their first-class cricket experience. Skipper Ben Stokes, with a mix of experience and youthful energy in his side, will look to build on the momentum from the series opener and take a commanding 2-0 lead against the visiting Indian side.

England Playing XI for 2nd Test vs India:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

There has been growing speculation around India's playing XI for the second Test against England, especially after their five-wicket defeat at Headingley. Fans and cricket experts alike have been calling for changes to the squad, with Nitish Kumar Reddy being among the top names discussed. Many believe he could come in for all-rounder Shardul Thakur, whose performance in the first Test came under scrutiny. Additionally, Kuldeep Yadav's potential inclusion has gained traction following India's underwhelming bowling display in the opening game of the series.

Although no official announcement has been made by the team management, training session pictures have given rise to speculation. A photograph shared by RevSportz on X (formerly Twitter) showed Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, and Nitish Kumar Reddy forming the slip cordon, while Yashasvi Jaiswal practiced at leg slip and short leg. The presence of Reddy in the slip cordon was interpreted by fans as a significant hint regarding his inclusion. Meanwhile, questions remain over Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the match.

In the aftermath of the Headingley Test, Australia great Greg Chappell weighed in on India’s selection concerns, highlighting a lack of variety in the bowling attack as a major factor behind the defeat. He advocated for the inclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and spinner Kuldeep Yadav, whom he lauded as the “best wrist-spinner since Shane Warne.”

Greg Chappell Calls for Variety, Lauds Kuldeep Yadav

“As disappointing as the fielding in Headingley was, it was not the main reason India lost the Test. Most of India's problems were self-inflicted. Perhaps the most expensive error was the no-ball that gave Harry Brook an early life in the second innings,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo. India dropped eight catches during the match, adding to their woes.

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The former Australian captain was more concerned with India's lack of tactical diversity in bowling. “More concerning to me, though, is the lack of variety in the bowling attack. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, India's seamers are too similar—all right-arm, medium-fast, operating at comparable angles. There is a reason why wickets often fall after a change of bowling. It forces the batter to recalibrate. That variability isn't available to Shubman Gill with his current crop,” he added.

In the 10th match of the MLC 2025, Texas Super Kings vs San Francisco Unicorns (TEX vs SF) has been scheduled for Friday evening, June 20 (starting time at 05:30 IST on June 21) at Grand Prairie Stadium in Grand Prairie. 

MLC 2025, Match 10: TEX vs SF - Present Forms

Both Texas Super Kings and San Francisco Unicorns will play their fourth game of the season, while both are unbeaten this season with three out of three wins. Unicorns started the season with a 123-run win against the defending champions Washington Freedom, before beating Los Angeles Knight Riders and MI New York by 32 runs and three wickets, respectively.  

On the other hand, Super Kings first defeated MI New York by three runs before beating Los Angeles Knight Riders and Seattle Orcas by 57 runs and 93 runs, respectively.  

It will be the fourth meeting between Texas Super Kings and San Francisco Unicorns in MLC history. In the MLC 2023, Super Kings won by three wickets after successfully chasing the 172-run target. 

In the MLC 2024, they faced each other twice. After Super Kings won by seven wickets by easily chasing the 128-run target, Unicorns won the Challenger by 10 runs, as they successfully defended 200 runs. 

See Also: TEX vs SF : Match 10 Weather and Pitch Report – MLC 2025

MLC 2025, Match 10: TEX vs SF - Playing XIs Status

For Texas Super Kings, Marcus Stoinis and Nandre Burger should continue their places in the playing XI, as we aren’t expecting any special playing XI alteration. Meanwhile, San Francisco Unicorns also don’t need any significant changes in the playing XI. 

MLC 2025, Match 10: TEX vs SF - Probable Playing XI

Texas Super Kings Predicted Playing XI: Devon Conway (wk), Faf du Plessis (Captain), Daryl Mitchell, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shubham Ranjane, Marcus Stoinis, Calvin Savage, Zia-Ul-Haq, Nandre Burger, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Mohsin

San Francisco Unicorns Predicted Playing XI: Finn Allen, Jake Fraser McGurk, Tim Seifert (wk), Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hassan Khan, Cooper Connolly, Corey Anderson (Captain), Haris Rauf, Xavier Bartlett, Brody Couch, Carmi le Roux

India is already ready to begin their five-match Test series against England at Headingley, Leeds, with several key changes and bold inclusions in their playing XI. Young left-handed batsman Sai Sudharsan will make his Test debut, opening at the pivotal No. 3 spot. The move signals India’s intent to invest in youth while maintaining a balance of experience in their lineup.

The opening duo will be KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who were impressive during the Australia tour but now have to deal with a new challenge in English conditions. Though Rahul can provide stability at the top, Jaiswal has to shake off recent inconsistencies, particularly after struggling against the England Lions and being unable to convert starts in Australia. The management will expect the two to give good starts to share the burden of a relatively inexperienced middle order.

After the openers, Sai Sudharsan occupies the crucial No. 3 position, providing a left-hander early in the innings. He is followed by skipper Shubman Gill, wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, and Karun Nair, who takes the No. 6 slot. India's all-round unit consists of Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Shardul Thakur, the former returning to the team as a seam-bowling all-rounder.

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The bowling attack is spearheaded by paceman Jasprit Bumrah, while Mohammed Siraj rejoins the Test configuration. Prasidh Krishna has been picked as the third seamer, completing India's pace-bowling-friendly approach in light of seaming English pitches. The combination suggests that India is expected to field only one spinner in Jadeja for the initial Test.

India Playing XI vs England – 1st Test, Headingley:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (c), B Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

🚨 INDIAN PLAYING 11 UPDATE 🚨 [Espn Cricinfo]

- Sai Sudharsan to Debut.
- Karun Nair to Bat at 6.
- Shardul Thakur as all rounder.
- Prasidh Krishna as third seamer. pic.twitter.com/FnMYTXat5X

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 20, 2025

In the ninth match of the MLC 2025, MI New York vs Seattle Orcas (NY vs SEA) has been scheduled at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland on Wednesday evening, June 18 (starting on 06:30 IST on June 19). Both teams will play their third game of the season. 

MI New York, the inaugural MLC champions (2023), have lost both of their first two matches of the MLC 2025, just like their upcoming challenging team Seattle Orcas. 

In their first two matches of the season, MI New York lost against Texas Super Kings by three runs and San Francisco Unicorns by three wickets. 

On the other hand, Seattle Orcas suffered thrashing defeats in their first two matches of the season. After losing by five wickets against the defending champions Washington Freedom in their first game of the season, Orcas lost by 93 runs against Texas Super Kings. 

MI New York and Seattle Orcas have faced each other thrice in MLC history. In the MLC 2023, after Orcas won by two wickets in their only league stage meeting by successfully chasing the 195-run target, MI New York won the tournament final by seven wickets by successfully chasing the 184-run target and lifted the trophy. 

In the 2024 edition, they met only once, and MI New York won that fixture by six wickets after successfully chasing the 109-run target.

See Also: NY vs SEA : Match 07 Weather and Pitch Report – MLC 2025

MLC 2025, Match 9: NY vs SEA - Playing XIs Status

Shimron Hetmyer’s presence in the Seattle Orcas squad has now become necessary for the team, as the West Indies cricketer just completed his UK tour for the West Indies cricket team. On the other hand, MI New York may make some crucial changes in the playing XI. 

MLC 2025, Match 9: NY vs SEA Probable Playing XI

MI New York Predicted Playing XI: Agni Chopra, Monank Patel, Quinton de Kock (wk), Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Kieron Pollard, Michael Bracewell, Tajinder Dhillon, Nosthush Kenjige, Trent Boult, Naveen-ul-Haq, Sunny Patel

Seattle Orcas Predicted Playing XI: Aaron Jones, David Warner, Steven Taylor, Kyle Mayers, Heinrich Klaasen (Captain & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Sikandar Raza, Harmeet Singh, Waqar Salamkheil, Obed McCoy, Jasdeep Singh

In the eighth match of the MLC 2025, Washington Freedom vs Los Angeles Knight Riders (WAS vs LAS) will be played at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland on Tuesday evening, June 17 (starting at 06:30 IST on June 18). 

It will be the third match for both teams, Los Angeles Knight Riders and Washington Freedom, in the MLC 2025. 

Los Angeles Knight Riders have started this season with two back-to-back defeats. After San Francisco Unicorns beat them by 32 runs, Texas Super Kings thrashed them by 57 runs. 

Defending champions Washington Freedom have recorded one win and one loss this season. After starting the season with a massive 123-run defeat against San Francisco Unicorns in the tournament opener, the defending champions beat Seattle Orcas by five wickets after successfully chasing a 146-run target in 13.3 overs.

It will be their third meeting in this tournament's history, and Washington Freedom have won both of their previous encounters. In the MLC 2023, Freedom won by six wickets after successfully chasing the 176-run target in 18.1 overs after losing four wickets. 

During their MLC 2024 meeting, Freedom claimed another eight-wicket win after they comfortably chased the 130-run target in 16 overs.

See Also: MLC 2025, WAS vs LAS Match 8: Oakland Coliseum cricket stadium stats and Head to Head

MLC 2025, Match 8: WAS vs LAS - Playing XIs Status

Talking about both teams’ playing XIs, it is going to be important to see if Lockie Ferguson, a key name for Washington Freedom, returns to the game after recovering from the injury. Meanwhile, captain Jason Holder is set to lead Los Angeles Knight Riders after completing his UK tour for West Indies. Also, Knight Riders may make a few more important changes in the playing XI. 

MLC 2025, Match 8: WAS vs LAS Probable Playing XI

Washington Freedom Predicted Playing XI: Andries Gous (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell (Captain), Jack Edwards, Glenn Phillips, Ian Holland, Mukhtar Ahmed, Obus Pienaar, Saurabh Netravalkar, Lockie Ferguson.

Los Angeles Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI: Alex Hales, Andre Fletcher, Sunil Narine, Unmukt Chand, Nitish Kumar, Matthew Tromp, Andre Russell, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Jason Holder (Captain), Ali Khan, Dominic Drakes

In the seventh match of the MLC 2025, Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas (TEX vs SEA) has been scheduled at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland on Monday evening, June 16 (starting time at 06:30 IST on June 17).

It will be the third match for Texas Super Kings and the second game for Seattle Orcas in the MLC 2025. Super Kings have won both their matches of the season, and Orcas lost their season opener. 

After beating MI New York by three runs (defended 185/6), Texas Super Kings thrashed Los Angeles Knight Riders by 57 runs after scoring 181/4. On the other hand, Seattle Orcas started the season with a five-wicket defeat against the defending champions Washington Freedom, where Orcas scored 145/9, and Freedom chased down the target in 13.3 overs after losing five wickets.  

It will be their third meeting in the MLC's history. After Orcas won by eight wickets in their meeting in the 2023 edition, Texas won by 37 runs in the MLC 2024.  

See Also: TEX vs SEA: Match 07 Weather and Pitch Report – MLC 2025

MLC 2025, Match 7: TEX vs SEA - Playing XIs Status

For the Seattle Orcas, there is no significant news on Fazalhaq Farooqi’s visa approval and landing in the United States for the MLC. Also, Caribbean star Shimron Hetmyer can serve for Orcas in this game, who may join the team after completing his national team duties during the UK tour.   

On the other hand, in-form Texas Super Kings don’t require any significant change in the playing XI. 

MLC 2025, Match 7: TEX vs SEA - Probable Playing XI

Texas Super Kings Predicted Playing XI: Devon Conway (wk), Faf du Plessis (Captain), Daryl Mitchell, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shubham Ranjane, Donovan Ferreira, Calvin Savage, Zia-Ul-Haq, Adam Milne, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Mohsin

Seattle Orcas Predicted Playing XI: Aaron Jones, David Warner, Steven Taylor, Kyle Mayers, Heinrich Klaasen (Captain & wk), Shimron Hetmyer/Cameron Gannon, Sikandar Raza, Harmeet Singh, Waqar Salamkheil, Obed McCoy, Jasdeep Singh