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The weather could be a major factor. While the opening two days are expected to remain mostly dry, rain is forecast from Day 3 through Day 5, which could interrupt play and reduce innings time.
The iconic Test rivalry between India and England resumes today with the second match of the five-test series at Edgbaston, a venue where India have never tasted victory in red-ball cricket. England lead 1-0 after pulling off a sensational chase of 370 in the fourth innings at Headingley, handing Shubman Gill a harsh welcome in his debut series as captain. The defeat exposed several cracks in India’s lineup, especially with no Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma to steady the ship. Jasprit Bumrah’s likely absence for the second Test due to workload management only adds to India’s worries. Meanwhile, England look set to continue their aggressive Bazball approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, riding high on confidence. With form, match ups, and momentum in focus, fantasy managers have a lot to think about ahead of the clash. Let’s break down the top picks and player insights for your fantasy team.
Match: India vs England, 2nd Test
Date: 2nd July 2025
Time: 3:30 PM IST
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Format and Stage: Test Match, Part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 Cycle
Broadcast and Streaming Details: Fans in India can watch the match live on Sony Sports Ten 1 and Sony Sports Ten 5 TV channels. For online viewers, the match will be streamed live on JioCinema and Hotstar.
KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep
Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested. India are likely set to field two spinners, with Washington Sundar expected to play a key role. Kuldeep Yadav might play
Shubman Gill: In-form skipper with a hundred in the first Test
Rishabh Pant: Blazing form with twin centuries
Mohammad Siraj: India’s lead pacer in Bumrah’s absence, expect a heavy workload and key wickets.
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes, Shoaib Bashir, Josh Tongue
England go unchanged from the 1st Test. No room for Bethell. Jofra Archer is unavailable due to personal reasons.
Ben Duckett – Player of the Match in 1st Test; explosive starter
Joe Root – England’s modern-day great with over 13,000 Test runs
Shoaib Bashir – Expect turn as pitch dries; can exploit India’s left-handers.
Ollie Pope – Scored a match-winning century in the first Test. Compact, composed, and key to England’s middle order.
Rishabh Pant – Blasted two centuries in the series opener. A fearless game changer and major points magnet.
Karun Nair – After a nine-year return, he failed in both innings of the first Test. However, his experience and hunger to prove a point make him a smart Grand League punt.
Ben Stokes – Didn’t contribute with the bat in the first Test, but bagged a crucial five-wicket haul. Always in the thick of the action.
Washington Sundar – Back in the XI, his steady off-spin and classy batting can provide dual value, especially on a dry Edgbaston surface.
Mohammad Siraj – Quiet in the first game, but India will need him to step up with or without Bumrah. Expect movement and aggression.
Josh Tongue – Picked up a brilliant five wickets in the opening Test. His bounce and pace could trouble India again.
Shoaib Bashir – With the pitch expected to dry out, his off-spin could be a handful, especially to India’s left-handers.
Joe Root (C), Rishabh Pant (VC) – Reliable, consistent run-getters with big-match experience.
Chris Woakes (C), Shubman Gill (VC) – Both contribute across departments and are in form.
Karun Nair (C), Brydon Carse (VC) – High risk, high reward duo with breakout potential.
Ollie Pope (C), Sai Sudharsan (VC) – Pope is in prime form, while Sudharsan can be an X factor if he gets going.
WK: Rishabh Pant (VC)
BAT: KL Rahul, Joe Root (C), Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Yashasvi Jaiswal
AR: Ben Stokes
BOWL: Mohammad Siraj, Chris Woakes, Shoaib Bashir, Prasidh Krishna
Budget Pick: Shoaib Bashir
Star Pick: Joe Root (C)
Note: A balanced SL team with in-form batters and impactful bowlers. Jaiswal adds a slight differential edge, while Root and Woakes bring stability.
WK: Jamie Smith
BAT: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett (VC), Karun Nair, Sai Sudarshan
AR: Ben Stokes, Washington Sundar
BOWL: Josh Tongue, Mohammad Siraj, Brydon Carse, Prasidh Krishna
Differential Picks: Josh Tongue, Jamie Smith, Karun Nair
Note: Risk-heavy, reward-focused build with aggressive top-order picks and lesser-owned players who can break the template in Grand Leagues.
Joe Root, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Ben Stokes, Mohammad Siraj, and Harry Brook.
Build the rest of your team around this trusted base.
On platforms like My11Circle, MPL, and Howzat, scoring leans heavily on strike rate, wicket-taking ability, and all-round performance. With the Edgbaston surface expected to dry out as the match progresses, start by loading your fantasy teams with seamers who can exploit early movement. Mohammad Siraj, Chris Woakes, and Josh Tongue are key swing options.
Rishabh Pant, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Yashasvi Jaiswal form a solid core across platforms thanks to their consistency and impact. Platforms that reward all-round contributions and aggressive scoring make Ben Stokes and Pant excellent captaincy choices.
Also, consider differentials like Washington Sundar and Shoaib Bashir, who can come into play as the pitch starts to turn from Day 3.
This platform heavily rewards all-rounders, making players like Ben Stokes and Washington Sundar valuable picks. With Jadeja rested, Sundar becomes a prime option for balance and differential value.
C/VC Combo: Rishabh Pant (C), Ben Stokes (VC)
With higher emphasis on batting bonus, load up on top-order anchors and aggressors. KL Rahul, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope are prime picks. If Gill builds on his century from the first Test, he’s a match-winner here.
C/VC Combo: Shubman Gill (C), Mohammad Siraj (VC)
Bowling impact is highly scored, especially for breakthroughs. Bowlers like Chris Woakes, Mohammad Siraj, and Shoaib Bashir become essential. Expect Bashir to benefit from the dry Edgbaston surface later in the Test.
C/VC Combo: Chris Woakes (C), Rishabh Pant (VC)
Scoring Note: Each fantasy platform values performance differently, whether it’s batting fluency, impact overs, or all-round balance. Always refer to the specific app’s scoring breakdown before locking in your final XI.
The Edgbaston pitch traditionally offers assistance to seamers early on, with bounce and lateral movement on Days 1 and 2. Expect pacers like Woakes and Siraj to be in the game during the first innings. However, as the match progresses, the surface tends to dry up, bringing spinners like Shoaib Bashir and Washington Sundar into play, especially from Day 3 onward.
The weather could be a major factor. While the opening two days are expected to remain mostly dry, rain is forecast from Day 3 through Day 5, which could interrupt play and reduce innings time. Fantasy managers should consider loading up on bowlers likely to strike early and all-rounders who can make an impact before rain curtails action later in the Test.
Joe Root remains a safe captaincy option given his elite consistency and ability to anchor innings. Rishabh Pant is another high-impact choice, especially with his current form and aggressive scoring that suits fantasy scoring systems.
For Grand Leagues, target differentials like Karun Nair, Jamie Smith, or Brydon Carse. With spin likely to play a role later, Shoaib Bashir is a sneaky pick. Use bold C/VC combos like Sai Sudharsan (VC) and Ollie Pope (C) to break away from the crowd.
Shoaib Bashir offers solid value as the pitch dries up and spin comes into play. Josh Tongue, after a five-wicket haul in the first Test, is a must-watch budget pacer. Karun Nair, despite a quiet return, is capable of turning the game if he settles in.
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