The second Test between England (ENG) and India (IND) promises another gripping battle as the two teams lock horns at Edgbaston, Birmingham starting Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST. This match is part of the ongoing five-match series, which began with a thrilling first Test that England won by chasing down a massive target of 371 runs, winning by five wickets.
Match Details
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Match: England vs India, 2nd Test
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Date: July 2, 2025 (Wednesday)
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Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
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Time: 3:30 PM IST
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Live Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
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Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Teams Overview
England will look to extend their winning streak, having won their last five Test matches, while India will aim to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss in the first game despite posting big totals. England has stuck with an unchanged playing XI for this match, even though Jofra Archer was named in the squad — he stays on the bench for now.
India, meanwhile, faces selection dilemmas. While their top-order was in sublime form — scoring centuries for fun — their middle-order was exposed, adding just 65 runs combined in the first Test. With Jasprit Bumrah’s availability still uncertain, India might tweak their bowling attack to strengthen their pace options.
Key Players to Watch
Rishabh Pant was the standout star for India, smashing centuries in both innings of the first Test — a feat that made him the first Indian wicketkeeper to do so in Test history. His aggregate of 252 runs at a strike rate of 79.24 shows he’s in red-hot form.
Ben Duckett will be another player to watch from the England camp. Duckett hammered a decisive 149 in the second innings after scoring a fifty in the first, earning him the Player of the Match award. England’s top and middle-order are brimming with confidence as Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Joe Root add depth and stability.
On the bowling front, India’s Jasprit Bumrah was the standout with a fifer in the first innings, while England skipper Ben Stokes impressed with a four-wicket haul.
Head-to-Head
Historically, England has enjoyed playing at Edgbaston — one of their strongest fortresses. India has faced tough conditions here in the past. With England leading the series 1-0, the visitors must win to keep their hopes alive.
Probable Playing XI
England:
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Zak Crawley
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Ben Duckett
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Ollie Pope
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Joe Root
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Harry Brook
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Ben Stokes (C)
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JL Smith (wk)
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Chris Woakes
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Brydon Carse
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Josh Tongue
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Shoaib Bashir
Bench: Jacob Bethell, J Overton, Samuel Cook, Jofra Archer
India:
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Yashasvi Jaiswal
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KL Rahul
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Sai Sudharsan
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Shubman Gill (C)
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Karun Nair
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Rishabh Pant (wk)
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K Nitish Kumar Reddy
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Kuldeep Yadav
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Akash Deep
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Mohammed Siraj
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Prasidh Krishna
Bench: DC Jurel, AR Easwaran, Ravindra Jadeja, JJ Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, H Rana
The Indian camp will keep a close eye on Bumrah’s fitness, as his inclusion could make a huge difference, especially on a pitch that historically assists pacers.
Pitch and Weather Report
The Edgbaston pitch is expected to offer something for everyone. Early on, pacers should get significant assistance with movement off the seam and swing in the air, particularly under overcast skies. As the match progresses, the surface is likely to flatten out, offering batters a chance to make big scores.
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Average first innings score: 308
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Pace vs Spin: 80% Pace, 20% Spin
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Batting Pitch Rating: 65% batting-friendly
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Weather Forecast: Cloudy conditions with temperatures around 15.1°C and high humidity (88%) could help bowlers early on.
Probable Scenarios
If England bats first, expect their aggressive top-order to set the tone. India’s bowlers must strike early to avoid a repeat of the first Test. Conversely, if India bats first, their top-order must convert starts into big partnerships, while the middle-order must step up to avoid collapses.
Rishabh Pant’s form will be crucial for India, and Duckett, Pope, and Root will be England’s backbone. Spin is likely to have minimal impact early, so expect pace duels to dominate this clash.
Match Prediction
Given England’s form, depth in batting, and home advantage at Edgbaston, they enter as favorites. However, India’s batting lineup can turn the tables if their middle-order clicks and Bumrah is fit to spearhead the attack. Expect another high-scoring encounter with both teams eyeing first-innings dominance.
Predicted Winner: England holds a slight edge, but India will be hungry for redemption and capable of leveling the series if they iron out their middle-order woes.