India-England Tests: What Does the Weather Forecast in Edgbaston Look Like?

India has a distasteful Test record at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, having failed to win any of the eight Test matches played there against England.

India-England Tests: What Does the Weather Forecast in Edgbaston Look Like?

India-England Edgbaston Test weather (Image via Getty)

India and England are set to clash in the second Test of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. The match begins on July 2, 2025, and the playing XIs for both teams will depend on the pitch and the prevailing weather conditions.

The home side have already taken a comfortable 1-0 lead over the visitors, having secured a five-wicket victory in the opening Test match at Headingley in Leeds. The match itself proved to be a run-scoring fest, with a remarkable aggregate of 1,673 runs amassed by both teams across all four innings. The ongoing five-match Test series also kickstarts the 2025-26 World Test Championship cycle for both the teams.

For India, the England tour also marks the beginning of a new era for the red-ball side under captain Shubman Gill. The opening Test defeat served as a reality check to Gill’s captaincy. He now will be aiming for a comeback in Birmingham, while Ben Stokes will be looking to secure a 2-0 lead, putting them in a dominant position. The week-long break between two Tests has provided both sides ample time to review their strategies.

Ahead of the much-awaited clash starting July 2, it is important to assess the pitch conditions as well as the weather forecast. The surface at Edgbaston will offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. On Days 1 and 2, the pitch might provide significant pace and bounce, making it challenging for top-order batters to score and adapt to the seam movement, while also increasing the likelihood of early wickets.

From the third day onwards, however, the pitch is expected to become favorable for the batters. With clear skies and sunshine, the surface should flatten out, offering consistent and true bounce. This will enable batters to play more freely. This batting-friendly surface is likely to persist until the final day, when the pitch may develop a strong spin-friendly character due to emerging cracks and rough patches.

Meanwhile, the five-day weather forecast for Edgbaston is a bit disappointing for both the teams and for fans alike. On July 2, the first day of play, the BBC Weather report indicated a slight 20-30 percent chance of rain before the scheduled start time. However, conditions are expected to improve after that, promising uninterrupted play for the next two days. Day 2 and Day 3 would be quite pleasant, with a very low chance of rainfall.

However, play on Day 4 and 5 could experience interruptions, as there is a significant chance of light rainfall and moderate breeze.

Key Changes Expected in India Starting XI Against England for Second Test at Edgbaston

India and England will face each other in the second Test match, at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, starting July 2. India is expected to bring key changes in its starting XI for the second Test, after the Headingley encounter went in favor of the visitors.

India XI for second Test England
India could bring in several key changes in the XI for the second Test against England, at Edgbaston. (via NDTV Sports)

For the Men in Blue, the top-order batters were impressive, but the lower middle-order and the bowling attack, excluding Jasprit Bumrah, struggled. India is likely to keep its top four, featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, and Shubman Gill. However, at number five, the team has an option to go with Karun Nair, or pick Dhruv Jurel or Nitish Reddy instead.

Meanwhile, with Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar in the bowling attack, Shardul Thakur could be forced to sit out. Ravindra Jadeja is likely to retain his spot, alongside pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. If Bumrah rests for the second Test to manage his workload, Akash Deep or debutant Arshdeep Singh could step in.