India didn’t start their World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle on the right note. They lost the first Test to England by five wickets at Headingley and now they’re under pressure before heading to Edgbaston.
As the team gears up for the second match starting July 2, Shubman Gill and his side would be hoping to bounce back strongly and keep the series alive.
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Reports suggest that captain Jasprit Bumrah may be rested to manage his workload, opening the door for left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
With England’s Joe Root in fine form, let’s examine his record against left-arm bowlers and whether India should include Arshdeep and Kuldeep to turn the tide.
What is Joe Root’s record against Left-Arm bowlers?
Root is one of England’s most reliable batters, and getting him out early is always a big win for any team. His past record against different types of left-arm bowling can help India decide their strategy.
When facing left-arm wrist spin (chinaman style), Root has had some trouble- he’s been out 2 times in 8 innings and averages only 35.5. Against left-arm fast bowlers, his average is 43.7 across 58 innings.
Here is the quick look:
| Versus Player Type | Innings | Runs | Balls | Outs | Avg | SR | HS | 50 | 100 | 4s | 6s | Dot % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left-arm Chinaman | 8 | 71 | 161 | 2 | 35.5 | 44.1 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 70.8 |
| Left-arm Fast | 58 | 786 | 1,514 | 18 | 43.7 | 51.9 | 87 | 3 | 0 | 99 | 1 | 74.8 |
| Left-arm Medium | 45 | 725 | 1,409 | 18 | 40.3 | 51.5 | 69 | 3 | 0 | 77 | 2 | 71.9 |
| Left-arm Orthodox | 118 | 2,052 | 3,720 | 34 | 60.4 | 55.2 | 107 | 8 | 1 | 199 | 5 | 67.8 |
| Left-arm Slow | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | - | 66.7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33.3 |
Check: IND vs ENG 2nd Test: What is India's record in Tests at Edgbaston, Birmingham?
Should India play Arshdeep and Kuldeep at Edgbaston?
If Bumrah skips the match, India will need someone to fill the void with both control and impact. That’s where Arshdeep could come in. He’s a left-arm pacer who can swing the ball both ways, and that could really trouble someone like Root, especially early on.
On the spin front, Kuldeep brings a very different challenge. In their last meeting in Dharamsala, he got Root out and ended up with a five-for. That memory will still be fresh.
Plus, if the Edgbaston pitch gets drier from Day 4 onwards, as expected, he and Jadeja could make life very difficult for the English batters. But, if India bring in both Arshdeep and Kuldeep, their batting could look a bit thin.