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New Delhi: Punjab spinner Harpreet Brar has revealed he joined Team India’s practice session in Birmingham as a net bowler on the request of captain Shubman Gill. Brar, who did well for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, was spotted bowling to the Indian batters during the team’s net session in Birmingham ahead of the second Test against England at Edgbaston.

The 29-year-old’s presence at India’s practice session sparked rumours. However, the spinner has now clarified that he joined the team just for practice purposes and has not been added as a cover in the Test squad. In a video shared by the BCCI, Brar revealed he was in Swindon (his wife’s hometown) in England when he received a text from Gill to train with the Indian team.

Brar and Gil play together for Punjab in the domestic circuit. The spinner revealed that Team India’s practice venue was just a short drive from where he was staying, and thus he decided to train with the Indian players in Birmingham.

“My wife is from Swindon. It’s very close to Birmingham, it’s a 1-1.5 hour drive. I was talking to Shubman (Gill), he texted me yesterday. So I thought let’s go and practice there (Birmingham),” Brar said in the video.

India suffered a five-wicket defeat in the first Test against England at Headingley in Leeds after failing to defend 370 runs during the hosts’ second innings. India produced an abysmal bowling display during England’s second innings as the hosts rode on a magnificent century from Ben Duckett to pull off their second-highest 4th innings chase in Tests and wrap up a convincing victory.

Indian bowling attack under scrutiny ahead of 2nd Test

The Indian bowling attack is under scrutiny ahead of the 2nd Test against England in Birmingham after their dismal performance in the series opener in Leeds. While Jasprit Bumrah impressed with a five-wicket haul during England’s first innings, he failed to replicate his heroics in the second innings and went wicketless during the hosts’ successful 371-run chase at Headingley.

The pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were far from their best throughout the game and were taken to the cleaners by the England batters, while struggling to take wickets. The poor show from the bowlers in the first Test has led to demnds over changes in the bowling attack for the second Test in Birmingham.

There are also question marks over Bumrah’s availability for the 2nd Test due to his workload issues. If Bumrah fails to make the cut, India will have to make significant changes in their bowling attack to make up for the senior pacer’s absence.