The Indian cricket team’s preparations for the second Test against England at Edgbaston, commencing July 2nd, took an intriguing turn with the unexpected presence of Punjab Kings’ left-arm spinner, Harpreet Brar, at their training session. Brar, who showcased his impressive skills during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, was spotted as a guest net bowler, a development that has now been attributed to a direct request from India’s captain and fellow Punjab native, Shubman Gill. This peculiar inclusion has fueled widespread speculation regarding India’s strategic adjustments, particularly concerning their spin department, following a comprehensive defeat in the preceding Test at Headingley.
Harpreet Brar receives a message from the Indian captain
The buzz surrounding Brar’s involvement began on Saturday when photographs and videos emerged of him bowling vigorously to Indian batsmen in the nets. Dressed distinctly in non-official training attire, it quickly became apparent that his role was not as a squad member but as a specially invited practice resource. This immediately triggered discussions among cricket analysts and fans alike, keen to decipher India’s tactical blueprint, especially given the pressing need to recalibrate their bowling attack. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) subsequently released a video confirming Brar’s account, where he revealed the serendipitous nature of his presence.
“My wife is from Swindon. It’s very close to Birmingham, it’s a 1-1.5 hour drive,” Brar explained in the BCCI video, detailing the convenience of his location. He further elaborated on the initiation of his training stint: “I was talking to Shubman, he texted me yesterday. So I thought let’s go and practice there.” This candid revelation underscores the informal yet impactful channels through which teams often seek to fine-tune their preparations. Brar’s valuable left-arm spin, honed in the demanding environment of the IPL, offers a specific challenge to batsmen, providing a crucial simulation that might not be readily available from within the main squad. In addition to Brar, young Chandigarh fast bowler Jagjit Singh Sandhu also joined the Indian nets as a guest bowler, further emphasizing the team’s proactive approach to intensifying their practice sessions ahead of what promises to be a pivotal contest.
India’s bowling conundrum
The decision to bring in external bowlers highlights the scrutiny under which India’s primary bowling unit finds itself heading into the Edgbaston Test. In the series opener at Leeds, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah delivered a commendable five-wicket haul in the first innings, his effectiveness waned significantly in the second, as England comfortably chased down a daunting 371-run target. The remainder of India’s pace attack struggled to maintain consistent lines and lengths, failing to exert sustained pressure on the English batters. Compounding these concerns, India’s lone specialist spinner, Ravindra Jadeja, had an underwhelming outing, managing to secure just one wicket across both innings.
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This collective underperformance with the ball has inevitably led to animated discussions about potential changes for the second Test. Chief among the proposed adjustments is the possibility of introducing wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to bolster India’s spin options. Kuldeep’s inclusion would offer a different dimension to the attack, providing a leg-spin alternative to Jadeja’s left-arm orthodox, and potentially creating more wicket-taking opportunities on what could be a drier Edgbaston pitch.
The presence of Brar, a fellow left-arm spinner, in the nets could serve multiple purposes: offering realistic match-like practice against a quality left-arm spin option, allowing the team management to assess potential adjustments to their batting strategy against such bowling, and perhaps even acting as a benchmark for the existing spin resources within the squad.
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