India’s preparations for the pivotal fourth Test against England at Old Trafford have been severely hampered by a series of injury setbacks.
All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh have both been ruled out of the remainder of the series, delivering a significant blow to India’s hopes of leveling the five-match contest, which they currently trail 1-2.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had a standout performance earlier in the series, has been sidelined due to a knee injury. The 22-year-old made a strong impact at Lord’s, where he played a crucial role in keeping India competitive.
Although he had a quiet outing at Edgbaston, he delivered an impressive performance at the Home of Cricket by dismissing England’s openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in a single over.
He also added valuable runs with the bat, scoring 30 and 13 in both innings. His absence now leaves a major gap in India’s middle-order and all-round capabilities.
Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh has also been forced out of the fourth Test after suffering an impact injury to his left thumb during a training session in Beckenham.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team is keeping a close watch on his recovery, but he will not be available for the upcoming match. His injury further weakens India’s bowling options, prompting the team management to consider tactical changes ahead of the crucial fixture.
In response to the growing list of injuries, India has added medium-pacer Anshul Kamboj to the squad as a cover. Kamboj recently made a mark during the India ‘A’ tour of England, where he impressed in warm-up matches by claiming five wickets and scoring a half-century.
He also recorded a historic ten-wicket haul in a Ranji Trophy innings, further cementing his reputation as a promising all-rounder. With conditions in Manchester likely to support swing bowling, Kamboj could be in line for a potential Test debut.
Compounding India’s troubles, vice-captain and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is also nursing a thumb injury sustained during the third Test at Lord’s. The medical staff is working diligently to manage the squad’s fitness concerns.
As the fourth Test begins on July 23, India faces immense pressure to deliver a win and keep the series alive.