Cricket

England v India Second Test Predictions & Betting Tips (2025)

3 months ago

| BY Sam Cox

The Second Test between England and India takes place at Edgbaston between July 2 and July 6.

After taking a 1-0 lead with a never-say-die performance at Headingley, England are odds-on cricket betting favourites.

England vs India Second Test Odds:

England – 8/13
Draw – 7/1
India – 2/1

Bet on England v India with William Hill

The sports betting markets favoured the hosts before the series. Having claimed a win in one of the three Tests Jasprit Bumrah is scheduled to play, England are fancied to win this series comprehensively against a rebuilding India team.

New, Calmer Bazball

England’s historic chase at Headingley was remarkable for its serenity. There was no panic in a calm, ruthless chase of 371, led by a brilliant 149 from Ben Duckett.

The run rate was Bazballian, the characters were the same, and the result a familiar one, but the tone was a maturer, all-grown-up Bazball ready to tackle an era-defining eight months of cricket.

The comments from the camp were very different in tone. Ben Stokes reminded everyone winning is all that matters (a far cry from previous messaging), while Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett discussed their partnership much more like traditional opening batters (seeing off the opening spell and batting time being given priority).

There were still a couple of attempted scoops from Duckett, Harry Brook charged down the wicket and was dismissed first ball, and Ben Stokes used a reverse sweep as a forward defensive. It was still Bazball, yet a version that had learned from its mistakes and blended the best of the brashness with cricketing nous.

It’s a formula that makes England look a terrifying opponent. They change how opponents think; they have redefined what’s normal in Test cricket. How does this Indian team respond after losing their last two Tests in England in very similar fashion?

Indian Selection Dilemma

Bumrah is expected to rest for the Second Test with Arshdeep Singh as his likely replacement. Shardul Thakur, despite burgling a couple of Day Five wickets, doesn’t deserve to retain his place in the side, and should be replaced by Kuldeep Yadav for the spin-friendly Edgbaston.

India clearly wanted Thakur’s batting down the order, though, so they might stick to their guns with the bits-and-pieces all-rounder batting at eight and operating as a fourth bowler.

Akash Deep is the other quick bowler in contention. If India want to stick with four seamers, they could bring in Akash and Arshdeep for Thakur and Bumrah. It might create a long tail, but packing the lower order didn’t reap rewards in Leeds.

Archer Returns

Jofra Archer was named in England’s squad on Thursday. Archer played for Sussex last week (his first red-ball match in four years). He hasn’t featured for England in a Test match since February 2021 amid elbow and back injuries.

It’s been a long journey back, and he might return to his 2019-20 peak, but Archer had decent rhythm for Sussex and has got plenty of white-ball cricket under his belt.

England wouldn’t include him in the squad if they weren’t going to pick him. Stokes’ presence as a legitimate fourth seamer will allow them to be careful with Archer’s workload – he’s unlikely to bowl more than 15 overs in a day and England will need to keep him to short spells after a string of stress fractures.

England v India Second Test Tip: Hosts Take 2-0 Lead

Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep could cause England some problems if it’s a typically dry Edgbaston pitch. Chasing becomes much trickier for an England team that has favoured batting fourth.

It’s far from guaranteed India will pick Kuldeep, though, and their seam-bowling options are not particularly intimidating if Bumrah rests as expected.

They have skill, and Mohammed Siraj bowled well in the fourth innings, but are they going to be able to slow down and bowl out this irresistible England lineup?

India’s top six have their work cut out after scoring five centuries and still losing the First Test. The psychological impact of that defeat will still be felt in Birmingham for the second match of this series. This is where the tourists really miss the experience and fiery competitiveness of Virat Kohli.