Summary
India vs England second Test of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between India and England began at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on July 2, 2025, with England captain Ben Stokes winning the toss and opting to bowl first under overcast conditions. India, trailing 0-1 after a five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Headingley, faced early challenges without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, rested for workload management. Despite a solid start, India stumbled to 211/5 by the 61.4th over, losing Rishabh Pant (25) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1) in quick succession after Shubman Gill’s gritty half-century.
India vs England Toss and Team Changes: England’s Tactical Choice
England captain Ben Stokes capitalized on the seamer-friendly conditions at Edgbaston, choosing to bowl first after winning the toss. “Overhead conditions favor it,” Stokes said, expressing confidence in his unchanged XI from the first Test’s victory in Leeds. England’s lineup included Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and a bowling attack led by Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and spinner Shoaib Bashir. The decision reflected England’s intent to exploit early swing and seam movement.
India made three changes to their XI, resting Jasprit Bumrah to preserve his fitness for the third Test at Lord’s. Akash Deep replaced Bumrah, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar came in for Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur, respectively, to bolster batting depth. Captain Shubman Gill noted, “We would’ve bowled first as well. If there’s anything in the wicket, it’s on the first day.” India’s inclusion of two spinners—Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar—aimed to contain runs on a dry Edgbaston pitch expected to favor batting later.
India vs England Morning Session: India’s Watchful Start
India’s innings began cautiously, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul facing a disciplined new-ball spell from Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse. Woakes, extracting bounce and movement, dismissed Rahul for 2 off 26 balls in the ninth over, as Rahul chopped a back-of-a-length delivery onto his stumps. India were 15/1, but Jaiswal and Karun Nair steadied the ship with an 80-run partnership. Nair, promoted to No. 3, scored a fluent 31 off 50 balls before Carse struck just before lunch, dismissing him with a rising short ball that lobbed to Harry Brook at second slip. India reached 98/2 at lunch, with Jaiswal unbeaten on 62 and Gill on 1.
India vs England Post-Lunch Session: Jaiswal’s Fluency and Stokes’ Breakthrough
The post-lunch session saw Jaiswal dominate, moving to 87 off 107 balls with 13 fours, narrowly missing a well-deserved century. Gill, surviving an LBW review off Carse due to an inside edge, played a measured role, supporting Jaiswal’s aggression. The duo added 66 runs for the third wicket, taking India to 161/3 before Stokes broke through. Jaiswal, attempting a cut, edged to keeper Jamie Smith for 87, ending a fluent knock. At tea, India were 182/3 after 54 overs, with Gill on 42* (115) and Rishabh Pant on 14* (28), including a towering six off Shoaib Bashir.
India vs England Final Session: Gill’s Fifty Amid Quick Wickets
The final session began with Chris Woakes bowling a tight maiden, probing Gill with subtle seam movement. India moved to 182/3 after 54 overs, with Gill (42*) and Pant (14*) looking to consolidate. Gill reached a gritty half-century off 127 balls, scoring 50* with five boundaries, displaying patience and leadership. The pair built a 47-run partnership, taking India past 200 to 202/3 after 59 overs. Pant, growing fluent, struck a six and a four off Bashir, but his aggression cost him at 60.1 overs. Shoaib Bashir tempted Pant with a tossed-up delivery, and Pant, attempting a lofted drive, was caught by Zak Crawley at long-on for 25 off 42 balls, leaving India at 208/4.
The momentum shifted further when Nitish Kumar Reddy, walking in at No. 6, fell for just 1 off 6 balls in the 61.4th over. Chris Woakes delivered a classic nip-backer, pitching outside off and jagging in to crash into off stump, beating Reddy’s leave. India were suddenly 211/5, with Ravindra Jadeja joining Gill to stem the slide. The quick dismissals of Pant and Reddy sparked concerns of another collapse, reminiscent of India’s lower-order struggles in Leeds, where they lost their last seven wickets for 41 runs.
India’s Strategy and England’s Fightback
India’s decision to rest Bumrah drew scrutiny, with former coach Ravi Shastri calling it “hard to believe” given Edgbaston’s seamer-friendly conditions. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate defended the move, stating, “We feel we can compete in this Test match without Jasprit.” India’s inclusion of two spinners aimed to control the run rate, but the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, a strike bowler, raised questions. Gill explained, “We were tempted to play Kuldeep, but looking at the last match, we wanted to add batting depth.”
England’s bowlers, led by Woakes (2/33) and Stokes (1/25), maintained pressure, with Bashir (1/40) claiming the key wicket of Pant. Carse’s dismissal of Nair and Woakes’ disciplined spell kept England in the contest. The ball change after 58 overs, following Stokes’ persistence, gave England a slight edge, though India’s batters capitalized on the flatter pitch. The Edgbaston crowd, energized by the quick wickets, found their voice, adding to the drama.
Edgbaston’s Historical Challenge
India’s winless record at Edgbaston—seven losses and one draw in eight Tests—looms large. Their last visit in 2022 saw Rishabh Pant’s explosive 146 lift India to 416, but England chased 378 to win by seven wickets. Gill, optimistic about breaking the jinx, said, “This year has been a year of chaos. Maybe that’ll change fortunes for us.” The dry pitch, with 11mm grass cover, offered early seam movement but flattened out, favoring batters. With Gill (50*) and Jadeja at the crease, India aim to build a total near Sunil Gavaskar’s suggested 300/4 by stumps.
India vs England Key Players and Tactical Battles
Shubman Gill’s patient 50* off 127 balls has been pivotal, anchoring India through testing phases. Ravindra Jadeja, at No. 7, faces pressure to deliver with both bat and ball, given his recent bowling struggles (five wickets in 110 overs at an average of 78). Rishabh Pant’s brief but impactful 25 hinted at his game-changing potential, though his dismissal highlighted his high-risk approach. For England, Woakes’ disciplined bowling and Stokes’ knack for breakthroughs have kept India in check. The battle between Gill and England’s seamers, particularly Woakes, will shape the final hours.
India vs England Looking Ahead: Final Hours of Day 1
With India at 211/5 after 61.4 overs, Gill and Jadeja must forge a steady partnership to avoid a collapse. England, buoyed by the quick wickets of Pant and Reddy, will aim to expose India’s lower order before stumps. The pitch, now easier for batting, offers India a chance to reach 300 if Gill and Jadeja bat through. However, with rain forecast for Days 4 and 5, India may adopt an aggressive approach to maximize their first-day total. Fans searching for “India vs England live score” and “Edgbaston Test match updates” can expect a gripping finish to Day 1.
India vs England 2nd Test: Brilliant Gill Hits Fifty Shaky
| India vs England Toss Updates | India vs England Morning Session Highlights |
|---|---|
| India vs England Toss: Ben Stokes opts to bowl | India vs England KL Rahul falls early for 2 |
| India vs England Overcast conditions favor seamers | India vs England Jaiswal anchors innings |
| India vs England India rests Bumrah for workload | India vs England Nair scores fluent 31 |
| India vs England England plays unchanged XI | India vs England Woakes bowls disciplined spell |
| India vs England India includes two spinners | India vs England India reaches 98/2 at lunch |
| India vs England Pitch offers seam movement early | India vs England Nair partnership steadies India |
| India vs England Historical Edgbaston challenge | India vs England Jaiswal plays fluent drives |
| India vs England Leeds defeat impacts selection | India vs England India avoids early collapse |
| India vs England Batting depth key for India | India vs England Seamers dominate early session |
| India vs England Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy stakes | India vs England Crowd cheers Jaiswal’s batting |
Conclusion: A Day of Ebbs and Flows
Day 1 at Edgbaston has been a rollercoaster, with India recovering from early pressure to reach 182/3 at tea, only to stumble to 211/5 after losing Pant and Reddy. Shubman Gill’s gritty fifty provides hope, while Ravindra Jadeja’s role will be crucial in avoiding a repeat of Leeds’ collapse. England’s bowlers, led by Woakes and Stokes, have kept the game balanced, setting up an intriguing final phase.
Note: All information and images used in this content are sourced from Google. They are used here for informational and illustrative purposes only.
FAQs on the India vs England 2nd Test Day 1 summary:
1. What happened in the India vs England 2nd Test toss?
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss at Edgbaston and opted to bowl first under overcast conditions, expecting early seam movement.
2. Why did India rest Jasprit Bumrah for the 2nd Test?
India rested Jasprit Bumrah to manage his workload ahead of the third Test at Lord’s, despite the importance of the Edgbaston game.
3. What team changes did India make for the 2nd Test?
India brought in Akash Deep, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar, replacing Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, and Shardul Thakur.
4. How did India start their first innings?
India started cautiously, reaching 98/2 at lunch after Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a fluent 62*, supported by Karun Nair and Shubman Gill.
5. Who were India’s top performers on Day 1?
Shubman Gill scored a gritty half-century, while Yashasvi Jaiswal made 87, leading India’s batting effort despite quick wickets later.
6. How did England’s bowlers perform in the first innings?
Chris Woakes (2/33), Ben Stokes (1/25), Brydon Carse (1/40), and Shoaib Bashir (1/40) took wickets at crucial intervals to keep pressure on India.
7. What were the key turning points in the match?
The dismissals of Rishabh Pant for 25 and Nitish Kumar Reddy for 1 in quick succession reduced India to 211/5, shifting momentum to England.
8. How does Edgbaston’s history impact this Test?
India has never won a Test at Edgbaston, with seven losses and one draw, adding extra significance to this match.
9. What challenges does India face in the remaining sessions?
India must avoid another lower-order collapse, build partnerships, and aim for a 300+ first innings total to stay competitive.
10. Who are the players to watch for the rest of the Test?
Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and England’s Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes will play pivotal roles in shaping the Test’s outcome.