Edgbaston, July 2, 2025, England have grabbed the initiative on a brisk first day of the second Test against India, leveraging favorable conditions to bowl first after winning the toss.
England captain Ben Stokes opted to field, capitalizing on overcast skies. India, trailing 0–1 in the series and resting pace ace Jasprit Bumrah, made three notable changes: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep entered the XI, signaling a shift toward a more batting-heavy balance.
Chris Woakes led the charge, bowling probing lengths that unsettled India’s top order. In the 9th over, he removed KL Rahul LBW for a mere 2, continuing his fine form from the opener in Leeds. He also put pressure on Karun Nair and Yashasvi Jaiswal with several strong lbw appeals; two were upheld via umpire’s call after reviews.
Brydon Carse supported him well, maintaining pace around 92 mph and tying down the batsmen.
India’s openers, particularly Jaiswal, showed poise under pressure. Jaiswal reached 15 before lunch, with a boundary off Carse, while Nair, elevated to No. 3, found his rhythm to reach 19. Both appeared judicious in their shot selection, carefully playing England’s seam and swing.
A tense lbw review in the 11th over saw England narrowly denied as the ball was trimming the wicket stump, the fourth umpire’s call saved India.
Earlier in the day, both teams led a warm round of applause to honour former England batter Wayne Larkins, who passed away on June 28, with players wearing black armbands during the national anthems.
Despite early morning rain, the sell-out Edgbaston crowd enjoyed a pleasant, dry afternoon with occasional sun breaking through. The pitch appears benign for batting, backed by short 65-metre boundaries that could encourage scoring later.
England have set the tone on day one, thanks to consistent seam bowling from Woakes and Carse, tight fielding, and tactical captaincy by Stokes. India’s cautious but composed reply, led by Jaiswal and Nair, leaves their innings on a cautious footing.
As the Test enters its second session, attention will turn to whether England’s bowlers can convert early pressure into further wickets, and how deeply the Indian batsmen can bat, potentially leveling the match. After a thrilling opening Test chase at Headingley, Edgbaston promises another compelling chapter in this evolving series.
