In a significant boost for India ahead of the crucial second Test against England at Lord’s, ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah returns to the playing XI after recovering fully from his minor niggle. The comeback comes at a crucial juncture as India trails 0-1 in the five-match series after a disappointing batting collapse in the first Test. Meanwhile, stand-in skipper Shubman Gill continues his unfortunate toss streak, having now lost three consecutive tosses in his short tenure as Test captain.
Bumrah returns to lead the pace attack
India’s bowling attack looked slightly toothless in the opening Test at Edgbaston, with Mohammed Siraj carrying the pace department in Bumrah’s absence. Bumrah, widely regarded as India’s leader of the attack, will bolster India’s chances of exploiting the seaming and swinging conditions at the Home of Cricket. His ability to move the ball both ways at pace while maintaining pinpoint accuracy remains unparalleled in the current Indian setup.
| Jasprit Bumrah Test Career Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches | 32 |
| Wickets | 142 |
| Average | 21.99 |
| Strike Rate | 47.2 |
| Best Bowling | 6/27 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 8 |
Speaking to broadcasters before the toss, Bumrah said:
“I am feeling fresh and eager to get into rhythm. Lord’s has always been special for me, and the team needs to bounce back strongly.”
Shubman Gill’s captaincy under scanner after toss streak
While Shubman Gill has impressed with his calm demeanour and batting leadership in Rohit Sharma’s absence, his toss luck has deserted him. Losing three consecutive tosses has impacted India’s strategy, especially in England where conditions on Day 1 can dictate the tone of the entire Test.
Former England skipper Nasser Hussain quipped during commentary:
“Shubman Gill seems to have carried on the Indian captains’ tradition of bad toss luck in England.”
| Shubman Gill as Test Captain (so far) | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 3 |
| Tosses won | 0 |
| Matches won | 1 |
| Matches lost | 1 |
| Drawn | 0 |
India’s revised playing XI for Lord’s Test
India has made two changes to the playing XI from the first Test. Jasprit Bumrah replaces Akash Deep, while Kuldeep Yadav comes in for Shardul Thakur to strengthen the spin department on a pitch expected to turn from Day 3 onwards.
| India Playing XI for Lord’s Test |
|---|
| 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal |
| 2. Shubman Gill (c) |
| 3. Cheteshwar Pujara |
| 4. Virat Kohli |
| 5. KL Rahul (wk) |
| 6. Ravindra Jadeja |
| 7. R Ashwin |
| 8. Kuldeep Yadav |
| 9. Mohammed Siraj |
| 10. Jasprit Bumrah |
| 11. Mukesh Kumar |
England opt to bat first
Winning the toss, England captain Ben Stokes opted to bat first, looking to exploit the bright sunshine in the morning before cloud cover returns on Day 2. England’s batting order remains unchanged with Joe Root, Ollie Pope, and Jonny Bairstow forming a formidable middle-order lineup.
| Lord’s Test Match Summary – Toss Impact |
|---|
| Toss winner |
| Decision |
| Reason |
Pitch report and match conditions
The pitch at Lord’s appears dry with a tinge of grass, ensuring seam movement early on while promising spin from Day 3. Former India coach Ravi Shastri noted:
“If Bumrah can exploit the slope and lateral movement, India can have England two or three down by lunch.”
| Lord’s Pitch Stats (Last 5 Tests) | Details |
|---|---|
| Average 1st innings score | 376 |
| Average 2nd innings score | 310 |
| Average 3rd innings score | 279 |
| Average 4th innings score | 160 |
| Matches won batting first | 3 |
| Matches won bowling first | 2 |
India’s concerns with batting consistency
India’s batting, led by Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, will need to stand up in the second innings after a meek surrender in the first Test. Kohli averages a healthy 46.5 at Lord’s and remains India’s best bet to anchor innings in swinging conditions.
Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer tweeted:
“Bumrah’s return is massive, but batting needs to step up. England will test them with skill and aggression.”
Importance of Bumrah’s return for the series
Bumrah’s comeback strengthens India’s bowling attack significantly as his pace partner Siraj gains confidence bowling in tandem with him. India’s strategy will revolve around early breakthroughs and keeping England under 300 to stay in control of the match.
| Key Indian Bowlers to Watch | Strength |
|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | Seam, swing, yorkers |
| Mohammed Siraj | Movement off seam, reverse swing |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Chinaman variations, googly |
| R Ashwin | Flight, drift, spin |
Conclusion
As the Lord’s Test kicks off, all eyes will be on Jasprit Bumrah’s spell with the new ball and Shubman Gill’s captaincy under testing conditions. With the series on the line, India’s fightback will depend on disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and resilience in batting to erase the first Test disappointment and keep the five-match contest alive.
Disclaimer
This news article is for informational purposes based on match-day developments, squad announcements, and pitch assessments. Team selections, final playing XI, and outcomes are subject to change depending on injuries, management strategies, and last-minute weather conditions.
