With the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford looming, the Indian team is reeling under a severe injury crisis.
Rishabh Pant’s fitness remains uncertain after a finger injury at Lord’s, while Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, and Nitish Kumar Reddy are also reportedly sidelined.
This setback could force skipper Shubman Gill to make at least three changes, raising questions over the team’s lineup. The most straightforward solution would be like-for-like swaps—bringing in Dhruv Jurel, Shardul Thakur, and Prasidh Krishna. Alternatively, India could use Pant purely as a batter and hand wicketkeeping duties to Jurel.
Kuldeep Yadav’s name is back in the mix, with his spin capabilities possibly outweighing the team’s previous preference for batting depth. Another wildcard option is debutant Anshul Kamboj, whose domestic form and ability to adapt to English conditions might bolster India’s bowling attack.
As the clock ticks down to the Test, India must strike a balance between experience, fitness, and form to stay afloat in the series.
