The Gill connection behind Harpreet Brar bowling in the nets ahead of the Edgbaston Test

With only a few days remaining for the visitors to take on England at Edgbaston, a new spinner was spotted with the squad in the nets. Videos emerging from the practice session ahead of the second India vs England Test in Birmingham showed Harpreet Brar practicing with the team. The Punjab Kings star, who played a key role in taking his team to the IPL 2025 final, was seen bowling to the Indian batters, ahead of the July 2 encounter. Though not part of India’s official Test squad for the England Tour, Brar was invited to bowl in the nets at the behest of captain Shubman Gill.

Shubman Gill called Harpreet Brar in India's practice sessions ahead of the second India vs England Test

The visitors suffered a setback in the first India vs England Test in Leeds, where England outplayed them in the fourth innings. Now, as they gear up to play in Birmingham, a venue where India is yet to win their first Test,  the team's think tank seems to be looking for ways to fine-tune the squad's response, The touring side had picked Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja as their main spinners, with Washington Sundar offering a backup all-round option. In that context, Gill’s call to bring in Brar may have been a strategic move to increase the squad’s exposure to quality spin ahead of the second game.

Brar being spotted in the nets piqued general intrigue. Was India planning to make a late addition to the squad? A similar instance occurred when Harshit Rana, a part of the India A squad, was asked to stay back with the team for the opening Test at Headingley. However, a video released by the BCCI shed light on the backstory of Brar’s arrival. In the clip, the 29-year-old explained that he had been spending time in Swindon with his wife’s family when he received a message from Gill, asking him to join the squad for nets.

“My wife is from Swindon. And it's quite close to Birmingham, it's a 1-1.5 hour drive. I was talking to Shubman (Gill). He texted me yesterday, so I said, Okay, let's go and practice here,” Brar said.

Meanwhile, the PBKS spinner was not the only fresh face at training. Fast bowler Jagjit Singh Sandhu, hailing from Chandigarh, was also seen bowling in the nets. The main squad practicing against the new picks hinted at the team’s intent to sharpen their skills across departments before the crucial Edgbaston Test.

India’s bowling performance has come under scrutiny following the loss in the first India vs England Test at Headingley. England chased down a steep target of 371 on the fifth day, sealing the victory with five wickets in hand. Jasprit Bumrah led the way with a five-wicket haul in the first innings but appeared less effective in the second. The remaining pacers struggled with consistency, and Jadeja, the lone specialist spinner, returned with only one wicket from the match.

The underwhelming show with the ball has sparked conversations around possible changes in the lineup. Kuldeep Yadav, with his wrist-spin variation, might be in contention to provide an extra edge to the attack. Adding to the complexity of India’s selection decisions is the workload management of Bumrah. The captain could be rested for one or more Tests during the series, and there is a chance that Edgbaston might be one of them.