Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has urged the players to be positive as they attempt to level the present five-match Test series against England in Birmingham. India lost the opening Test of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle at Headingley, despite dominating major sections of the game.
With the series now moving to Edgbaston for the second Test, the visitors must regroup swiftly for a must-win game that might be pivotal in the quest for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Ravi Shastri voiced minimal anxiety over team selection and highlighted the significance of playing intent-driven cricket, which he believes is critical for India to recover in the series.
“The most essential thing for India is to counter-punch practically quickly. When you lose a Test match like this, where you dominated most of it, and then you lose it on the last day with a big chase, full marks to England for keeping their cool and doing so, it will take a lot of character to come to the fore and bounce back in the series,” Shastri told The ICC Review.
Questions linger about India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the second Test, as team management seeks to manage his workload wisely. With a long series ahead of him and the necessity to keep him fit during the World Test Championship cycle, his inclusion is still being considered.
Meanwhile, the squad is considering adding a second spinner to complement Ravindra Jadeja as they seek to achieve the proper balance in their bowling assault for the conditions at Edgbaston.
“Now, no one knows whether Bumrah will play or not. But let’s hope he does since this is a crucial Test match and not all is lost. Simply take one game at a time. “It’s a five-match series, and India will be hoping to rebound,” Shastri stated.
The cricketer-turned-commentator believes that India’s setback in the series opener will have taught Shubman Gill significant lessons, and he expects the young captain to take a more proactive approach in the subsequent matches.
“People say he was a little reactive and it can happen when you’re playing your first Test match (as captain) and especially in such good batting conditions with a fast outfield and things can happen in that way,” Shastri informed the crowd.
“But he’d have learnt a lot from that and will want to be a little more proactive now, which means the bowlers and fielders will have to back him up. “They must understand their role and go out there and execute it,” he added.
India
