Former India opener and now head coach Gautam Gambhir faces a pivotal challenge as India heads into the second Test against England at Edgbaston on July 2. After a disappointing five-wicket defeat at Headingley, Gambhir is reportedly contemplating a shake-up in the playing XI, with seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s spot under scrutiny following an ordinary outing in the first Test.

Ravindra Jadeja contributed just 26 runs and picked up a solitary wicket on a surface that offered assistance to spinners but failed to turn the match India’s way. Adding fuel to speculation, left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar was spotted bowling at India’s nets in Edgbaston. Brar, who has made his name as a dependable T20 spinner with Punjab Kings, has yet to play a first-class game.

His presence hints at Gambhir’s willingness to experiment and inject fresh energy into a spin attack that looked toothless in the series opener. Washington Sundar also bowled at the nets, but Brar’s left-arm angle makes him the most direct like-for-like replacement for Jadeja, should Gambhir decide to make a bold call.

ALSO READ: Roston Chase Demands Accountability: How Umpires’ Decisions Impact Players’ Careers

The Indian team is clearly in a transition phase, with stalwarts stepping away and youngsters stepping up under the leadership of Shubman Gill. The pressure is now squarely on Gambhir to steady the ship.

Harpreet Brar has been spotted at the Indian nets at Edgbaston today… pic.twitter.com/CIcOWZPybQ

— Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) June 28, 2025

As cricket pundit Aakash Chopra highlighted on his YouTube channel, India has managed just one Test win in their last nine matches. Chopra didn’t mince words, saying Gambhir is getting everything he has asked for from the selectors—be it the kind of players or their numbers—and thus, results are the only thing that matters now.

“There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir,” Aakash Chopra said. “If you look at the results, they are not great. Two wins against Bangladesh, one against Australia, and then losses piling up—three to New Zealand, three to Australia, and one to England. There are no excuses anymore.”

ALSO READ: Devang Gandhi Recalls Rahul Dravid Indentifiyng Shubman Gill As Middle-order batter

As the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy hangs in the balance, Gambhir’s next move—whether he sticks with Jadeja’s experience or bets on a raw but promising Brar—could shape India’s fortunes in the remainder of this crucial series.