(Source: ECI | ABP NEWS)
India vs England Test Series: Nitish Reddy Out of England Series, Arshdeep Singh To Miss 4th Test
Injury setbacks hit Team India as Nitish Kumar Reddy and Arshdeep Singh are ruled out of the Manchester Test against England. Anshul Kamboj joins the squad ahead of the crucial clash.
India's injury woes deepened ahead of the fourth Test against England, with promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy officially ruled out of the remainder of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to a left knee injury. The 20-year-old will return home for rehabilitation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in a statement.
The setback comes at a critical juncture for the Shubman Gill-led side, currently trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series. India suffered a heart-wrenching 22-run defeat at Lord’s, leaving them desperate to bounce back in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, starting Wednesday, July 23.
Adding to the growing list of injuries, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who is yet to make his Test debut, has also been sidelined. He sustained an impact injury to his left thumb during a net session in Beckenham. While Arshdeep won’t feature in the upcoming match, the BCCI noted that its medical team is closely monitoring his recovery.
Anshul Kamboj Joins the Squad
In response to the double blow, the Men’s Selection Committee has drafted Anshul Kamboj into the squad. The uncapped pacer has already linked up with the team in Manchester as India scrambles to plug the gaps.
The injuries have thrown India’s team balance into disarray. Throughout the series, the side has leaned heavily on three all-rounders—Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy—to provide depth in both batting and bowling. Reddy’s absence now forces the team management to rethink its strategy.
Will they bring in another all-rounder? Will they gamble on Kuldeep Yadav, who is yet to feature in the series? The questions are plenty, and answers remain uncertain.
A Series Hanging by a Thread
India’s path through the series has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. They opened with a narrow defeat at Headingley, followed by a spirited comeback at Edgbaston, where Shubman Gill led the team to a morale-boosting win. However, the loss at Lord’s left the visitors staring at a 1-2 deficit heading into the penultimate clash.
The third Test saw Ravindra Jadeja fight valiantly with the bat, trying to resurrect India’s chase of 193 after a top-order collapse left them tottering at 112/8. Despite his efforts, Mohammed Siraj fell to Shoaib Bashir, dashing India’s hopes of a comeback.
Meanwhile, Karun Nair has struggled to find rhythm, failing to make the most of his chances. Sai Sudharsan, who was dropped after a solitary appearance, could be a potential replacement at No. 3. Dhruv Jurel may also come into the equation as a wicketkeeper if Rishabh Pant isn't fully fit to take the gloves.
Updated India Squad for Fourth Test
Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj.
India's growing injury list has left their squad stretched thin. Fast bowler Akash Deep, who impressed in Birmingham, is also out due to a groin niggle. With just two Tests left, the road to a series comeback looks increasingly steep.
Top Headlines
