India are heading into the Lord’s Test (starting July 10) with a lot of confidence after their dominant 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston, which leveled the series at 1-1. While they performed exceptionally well, especially with Shubman Gill’s double century and the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, there are still a couple of areas where India might consider making changes to optimize their XI for the unique conditions at Lord’s.
Here are 3 potential changes India could make for the Lord’s Test
1. Jasprit Bumrah IN for Prasidh Krishna:
This is almost a certainty. Captain Gill himself confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the Edgbaston Test specifically to manage his workload and ensure his fitness for the Lord’s Test, where the pitch is expected to offer more to seamers. While Akash Deep had a phenomenal outing with a 10-wicket haul at Edgbaston, and Siraj was excellent as well, Prasidh Krishna might be the one to make way. Bumrah’s ability to extract bounce and movement, coupled with his express pace and accuracy, makes him a crucial weapon at Lord’s, often dubbed the ‘Home of Cricket,’.
2. Shardul Thakur IN for Nitish Kumar Reddy:
Shardul Thakur has a proven track record in England, especially at Lord’s. He brings invaluable experience of these conditions, often picking up crucial wickets at key moments and contributing with the bat down the order. His ability to move the ball both ways and hit handy runs (he has three Test fifties in England) makes him a very attractive option, particularly at a ground like Lord’s which traditionally offers some swing.
While Nitish Kumar Reddy is a promising young all-rounder, his debut at Edgbaston saw him get out cheaply in both innings (1 and 31), struggling against the moving ball. He also didn’t bowl. While he’s a ‘batting all-rounder,’ Shardul provides a more established two-way threat in Test cricket, especially overseas. The team might look for more solidity and experience in a crucial Test.
3. Sai Sudharsan IN for Karun Nair:
Karun Nair‘s comeback to Test cricket hasn’t gone as planned. After scoring a triple century in 2016, his return at Headingley saw him get a duck and 20. At Edgbaston, promoted to number three, he scored 31 and 26, failing to convert starts despite showing glimpses of his class. There’s a feeling he hasn’t looked entirely comfortable, especially against the swinging ball. Sai Sudharsan, despite being dropped for the Edgbaston Test after his debut (0 and 30 at Headingley), is seen as a long-term prospect. He won the Orange Cap in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and has shown good form in County Championship stints. While his debut wasn’t ideal, he is technically sound and could potentially offer more stability at the top or middle order if given a longer rope.
Also READ: Fast bowler Gus Atkinson added as England announce squad for 3rd Test vs India at Lord’s
#ENG #IND #Jasprit #Bumrah #return #potential #Indias #Lords #Test
