 "Team India has been plagued with multiple injuries with Nitish Reddy and Arshdeep Singh being the latest victims. Images: Reuters/BCCI")
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday confirmed that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test series against England , while pacer Arshdeep Singh will not be available for selection during the fourth Test. Nitish was ruled out of the remaining two Test matches due to a left knee injury, while Arshdeep has suffered an injury to his thumb.
The Indian selectors have also added Haryana fast bowler Anshul Kamboj to the squad and the 24-year-old has already joined the team in Manchester ahead of the fourth Test, which starts on 23 July.
Team India suffers multiple injury blows
Nitish, who was part of the team in the last Test at Lord’s, will be flying back home, the BCCI said.
Arshdeep, who is yet to make his Test debut, will stay back in England as he has been ruled out of only the fourth Test for now. The BCCI medical team will be assessing his progress.
Arsdheep duffered a blow to his left thumb during a practice session on Thursday. He took the blow while trying to stop a shot from Sai Sudharsan .
India’s injury issues don’t just end here. There are reports that Akash Deep will most likely miss the Manchester Test as well due to the back issue that flared up against England at Lord’s.
Kuldeep could play at Manchester
This means either Team India will bring in spinner Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI for the fourth Test, or they may give Kamboj a debut. Going back to Prasidh Krishna doesn’t look like a possible plan.
Jasprit Bumrah, though, may play at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground as India are in a do-or-die situation. A defeat in the fourth Test will give England an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia’s updated squad for fourth Test vs England: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj