India Hint at Changes for Edgbaston Test with Arshdeep, Nitish Reddy, and Kuldeep in Contention

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has offered strong indications that the team may tweak its playing XI for the second Test against England at Edgbaston, starting July 2. With the visitors aiming to level the five-match series after a defeat at Headingley, fresh names are being considered for selection, including left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Speaking to media during Monday’s pre-match press conference, Ten Doeschate acknowledged the selection dilemma facing India’s management as they try to balance workloads and tactical combinations across a demanding Test series.

Arshdeep Singh, who has yet to debut in Tests, could offer variety and control as a left-arm seamer, especially if India opt for a two-spinner setup. “If we are going to go two spinners, Arshdeep provides a little bit more control. You’ve got a left-armer running in over the wicket. He’s definitely in the selection mix for this Test,” Ten Doeschate noted.

The assistant coach also underlined Nitish Kumar Reddy’s growing prominence within the squad. Having impressed in Australia, the young all-rounder is being viewed as a key asset in the team’s evolving structure. “Nitish is our premium batting all-rounder at the moment. There’s a very good chance he plays this Test. We’re looking at ways to reconfigure the puzzle, especially with that 6-7-8 role,” he said.

India had opted for bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur in the first Test, but may now re-balance the XI with a stronger batting option. Reddy, known for his composure and strokeplay, could offer the side additional depth in the middle order.

On the spin front, Kuldeep Yadav is also under serious consideration, particularly if the pitch shows signs of aiding turn later in the match. “We’d love to get him into the team,” Ten Doeschate said. “We know we’re going to need three seamers in this game, but if the weather stays the way it has, it should turn somewhere along the line. Whether we can fit Kuldeep in now or save him for later in the series is something we’re still evaluating.”

India’s bowling attack struggled to contain England in the series opener, with the hosts chasing down 371 in the fourth innings to take a 1-0 lead. As the team seeks to regroup, player rotation and strategic adjustments are expected to be central to India’s approach across the remainder of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

The Indian squad features multiple pace options including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, while all-round depth comes in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Reddy. With conditions at Edgbaston expected to test both seamers and spinners, the selection committee faces a nuanced decision ahead of the toss on Wednesday.