In a significant blow to India’s hopes of staging a comeback in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remaining Tests due to a knee injury. Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is set to miss the crucial fourth Test in Manchester after sustaining an injury to his bowling hand.
Details of injuries to Indian players
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who featured in the second and third Tests, suffered a left knee injury during a gym session on Sunday. Scans revealed ligament damage, sidelining the young all-rounder for several weeks. Reddy is expected to return home for rehabilitation, and the selection committee has yet to announce whether a direct replacement will be sent.
Reddy’s absence leaves a gap in India’s lower-middle order, having contributed both with bat and ball in his brief stint. He had managed scores of 1, 1, 30 and 13 across his two matches and picked up three wickets, providing vital breakthroughs in challenging situations.
Arshdeep Singh’s anticipated debut has also been put on hold after the left-arm seamer sustained an impact injury to his left thumb while bowling in the nets. The player received stitches and, according to the medical team, won’t recover in time for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which begins Wednesday, July 23.
Anshul Kamboj joins the Indian Test squad
With both Reddy and Arshdeep unavailable, the Indian team management has moved quickly to bolster the squad. Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj has been added as a cover for the depleted pace department. The fourth Test squad now includes Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain & wicketkeeper), and leading bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav, among others.
The situation has been further complicated by doubts over Akash Deep’s availability, as he is currently nursing a groin injury picked up during the third Test at Lord’s. The combination of injuries has forced India to reconsider their playing lineup, particularly in the bowling department, where managing player workloads is now more challenging than ever.
England hold advantage as India face must-win scenario
Trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, the visitors need a victory in Manchester to keep the contest alive. With Reddy’s all-round contributions and Arshdeep’s left-arm variations both unavailable, the Indian management faces the tough task of balancing team selection. The injuries also put further strain on spearheads like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who have carried a significant workload throughout the tour.
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