England captain Ben Stokes downplayed their 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series against India, stating that the Shubman Gill-led side are used to playing under pressure more than any other country, and England are well aware of the threat that awaits them at Edgbaston which is the where the second Test match is scheduled to take place starting Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

"Good team. They always fight hard, come hard. Very passionate team...It's pretty clear that there's always pressure on the shoulders of international sportsmen, but playing for India, especially in cricket, there's probably a bit more than any other nation. So, yeah, a very proud nation. Don't take anything for granted from last week. We start at 0 again," said Stokes at the pre-match press conference ahead of the second Test in Birmingham.

Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer among the bowlers for India in the first Test, and while his availability for the second Test has been kept under wraps by India owing to his workload management, Stokes showed no signs of concern when asked about Bumrah's presence in the Indian side at Edgbaston.

"That's India's problem. They will deal with it. I am captain of England," Stokes responded to the question.

Stokes looked by far the best England bowler in the series opener at Headingley, and he seems to be pleased with the way everything played out after returning to action from injury against India.

"I feel better now than I did on Thursday and Friday (laughs). Everyone was very tired in that week. It was a big week, we were on the field and bowled for another five days, so yeah, big week for everyone. I used the three days after that game to offer absolutely nothing to the world. I was a shadow of myself, but it goes to show how much a five-day Test match takes out of you. I was pretty tired, but I'm all over that now and ready to go tomorrow," he concluded while talking about his bowling.