Indian test captain Shaubman Gill indicated a possible shift in the strategy before the second test against England in Birmingham and supported the idea of building two spinners – an unusual step in English conditions, but the one he believes would pay off.
At a press conference before the match, Gill stressed that Edgbaston’s typically gentle reputation may not keep the sweeping throughout the UK due to hot and dry weather.
“In England, teams do not play with two spinners in general, but the weather is not typical and there is very less rain, a lot of heat,” Gill said. “So playing another spinner will not be a bad choice.”
India was under the control of most of the first Leeds test, but could not close the game, with Ben Duckett’s counterattack 149 led England to win five goals on the last day. When Gill was thinking about this match, he believes that the inclusion of another spinner could change the result.
“Even in the previous game, I felt that another spinner could make a difference, because Jadda Bhai (Ravindra Jadeja) was successful in asking questions on the dough and also containing runs.”
Gill explained that on flat footsteps, where the ball stops swinging along the initial exceeds, the spin can be essential so that not to take goals, but to control the game and create pressure leading into the second new ball.
“In the Fresh-friendly conditions, where the ball did not move too much after 30-40 breaks, Spinner can stop the runflow if he does not charge goals. This helps Pacers later in the return of fresh.”
However, he acknowledged that this decision is not easy and comes with its own risks-partly, if India ends with bowling 1. The day when the conditions could still prefer sailors.
“These are difficult calls, because if we go with another spinner, we would have to think about how to handle the second spinner on the first day, if bowling first.”
Gill emphasized the importance of well -rounded XI gaming and indicated that India would look for a combination that ensures the depth of tabs without endangering bowling versatility.
“Ideally, we would like to have a tab depth up to seven or eight years. It is also important to find the right combination for a particular land and a particular match,” he said.
“It is important to be consistent against the English set of batting and a bowl in one area-it is possible to make them play as much as possible in front of the goal.”
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
1 July 2025
Tune
