India vs England 2nd Test: Ignoring Arshdeep Singh May Hurt India’s Chances at Edgbaston

India is set to face England in the second Test of the five-match series on Wednesday, July 2, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. With the visitors already trailing 0-1 in the series, all eyes are on the team selection — especially in the fast-bowling department, where Jasprit Bumrah’s availability remains doubtful.

According to a report from Revsportz, premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah is nearly ruled out of the second Test due to fitness concerns. In his place, Akash Deep is the front-runner to join the pace attack alongside Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj. However, many cricket analysts believe leaving Arshdeep Singh out of the playing XI could be a costly blunder for India.

Arshdeep Singh: High on Confidence and Form

Arshdeep Singh has been in top form across formats. He was instrumental in guiding Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final, picking up 21 wickets in 17 innings with an economy of 8.88. In contrast, Akash Deep managed only 3 wickets in 6 IPL outings at a concerning economy of 12.05.

Arshdeep’s confidence isn't just limited to white-ball cricket. He has been working on his red-ball game, recently training in Kent to master the art of swinging the red cherry both ways. His ability to move the ball in English conditions could be a massive asset at Edgbaston.

Arshdeep’s Recent Bowling Stats:

  • IPL 2025: 17 innings, 21 wickets, 8.88 economy

  • ENG vs IND 2025: 4 innings, 6 wickets, 6.60 economy

  • Vijay Hazare Trophy: 7 innings, 20 wickets, 5.63 economy

  • IND vs SA 2024: 4 innings, 8 wickets, 8.79 economy

  • SMAT 2024: 5 innings, 6 wickets, 8.94 economy

  • Ranji Trophy 2024-25: 3 innings, 4 wickets, 3.00 economy

Akash Deep's Inconsistent Numbers a Concern

Despite being a regular in the Indian squad recently, Akash Deep has not delivered impactful performances in the longer format. He picked up only 5 wickets in 4 innings during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and managed just 2 wickets in 3 innings against New Zealand. His performance against Bangladesh was underwhelming as well, with only 5 wickets in 4 innings.

Akash Deep’s Recent Bowling Stats:

  • IPL 2025: 6 innings, 3 wickets, 12.05 economy

  • Border-Gavaskar Trophy: 4 innings, 5 wickets, 3.47 economy

  • NZ vs IND 2024: 3 innings, 2 wickets, 4.56 economy

  • BAN vs IND 2024: 4 innings, 5 wickets, 3.00 economy

  • Duleep Trophy 2024: 2 innings, 9 wickets, 2.83 economy

Why Arshdeep Should Be Picked

India needs variety in its pace attack, and Arshdeep, a left-arm seamer, brings that edge. His inclusion could add an extra dimension, especially in English conditions where left-arm seamers have historically performed well.

With India already under pressure and the Edgbaston pitch expected to offer some swing early on, Arshdeep Singh’s ability to exploit those conditions could turn the game. Ignoring him for Akash Deep, who is yet to impress at the highest level, might prove to be a tactical misstep.

Conclusion

Team India must consider form, confidence, and match conditions while picking their XI for the second Test. In Arshdeep Singh, they have a confident, in-form swing bowler ready to debut. Overlooking him might cost India dearly in the ongoing series.