India, July 2 -- Contrary to popular beliefs and, dare we say, even cricketing logic, India kept Kuldeep Yadav out of the playing XI for the second Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. They did pick a second spin-bowling option, though, in the form of all-rounder Washington Sundar to pair with Ravindra Jadeja. India captain Shubman Gill said they were "tempted" to play Kuldeep, who is, mind you, the lone specialist spinner in India's Test squad, after what transpired in the series opener at Headingley but in the end, batting depth is what they went with.

Among the slew of changes that India made, which former pacer Varun Aaron described as "pressing the panic button", the two most significant ones were the absence of Jasprit ...