Beyond Crisis | Real-Time Analysis, Views & Brief Reports

Following their defeat in the first Test, India is contemplating changes for the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Jasprit Bumrah's participation is uncertain due to workload management. Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion is strongly considered, given England's struggles against wrist spin.

India faces a daunting challenge at Edgbaston, a venue where they've never won a Test match. After a painful defeat at Headingley, where England chased down a substantial target, India is under pressure to avoid a series loss. Breaking the Edgbaston jinx, dating back to 1967, requires an extraordinary effort against a confident England team.

Mohammad Kaif has criticised Mohammed Siraj's bowling performance in the first Test against England, where India suffered a five-wicket defeat. Kaif emphasized the need for Siraj to bowl with his mind and focus on line and length to take wickets. He also highlighted how England strategically attacked the other bowlers, while playing defensively against Bumrah, ultimately leading to their victory.

Following India's underwhelming bowling performance in the first Test, former cricket stars Michael Clarke and Nick Knight have urged the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav. Clarke criticized India's selection strategy, emphasizing the need to prioritize wicket-taking over bolstering batting depth.

Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced concerns over Mohammed Siraj's performance in the recent Test match against England, urging him to prioritize controlling the run flow over solely focusing on taking wickets. Jasprit Bumrah stood out as India's best bowler in England’s first innings, claiming a five-wicket haul. Prasidh Krishna also picked up three wickets but was expensive, conceding runs at an economy of 6.40.

Varun Aaron has criticized Ravindra Jadeja's performance in the first Test against England, highlighting his inability to exploit the rough patches on the fifth-day pitch. Aaron noted Jadeja's inconsistent bowling length and speed, which allowed England's batters, particularly Ben Duckett, to disrupt his rhythm. He emphasized that Jadeja's experience should have enabled him to secure a historic victory for India.