Team India’s hopes of bouncing back in the five-match Test series against England have taken a major hit. As they gear up for the do-or-die fourth Test in Manchester, a string of injuries has thrown their team combination into complete disarray.
First came the news of Arshdeep Singh suffering a nasty hand injury during a net session. He needed stitches and is now expected to miss not just the Manchester Test, but likely the fifth one too. The selectors have already called in Anshul Kamboj as backup.
Then came another setback—Akash Deep, who was India’s hero in the massive 336-run win in Birmingham, is now dealing with a groin niggle. His participation is uncertain.
As if that wasn’t enough, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy injured himself while working out in the gym on Sunday. Scans revealed ligament damage, which effectively rules him out of the remainder of the tour.
So what does this mean for India’s playing XI?
The immediate effect is that Shardul Thakur might return to the lineup. He played the first Test in Leeds but was dropped after a quiet outing with both bat and ball. With Nitish out, Shardul is the likely replacement.
Akash Deep’s injury leaves India short on pace options. This all but confirms Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion, despite earlier workload concerns. He’ll likely share the new ball with Mohammed Siraj.
That still leaves a void, and the team might turn to Harshit Rana. The young pacer from Delhi joined the squad as a last-minute call-up for Headingley and could be in line for his first Test appearance.
Another tempting option is Kuldeep Yadav. There’s been chatter about giving him a game, especially after the spin-friendly conditions in earlier Tests. But including him means India would be fielding three spin options—Kuldeep, Jadeja, and Washington Sundar—which could unbalance the pace attack. Knowing head coach Gautam Gambhir, he may not want to go that route.
There’s also the wildcard choice: giving Anshul Kamboj his debut. He’s had a solid domestic season and impressed during India A matches. But with Harshit already ahead in the pecking order, the management might think twice.
And what about Rishabh Pant?
Fans were worried after he hurt his finger at Lord’s and didn’t keep wickets in either innings. But Pant has put those concerns to rest—for now. On social media, he shared a video of himself training, playing football, fielding, and even batting in the nets. His post read, “If calm had a sound, it would be this.” All signs point to him being ready.
Predicted India XI for the Manchester Test:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
With the series on the line and India trailing 1-2, this Manchester Test is make-or-break. But with key players down and replacements still untested, the road ahead looks tough—and unpredictable.
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