IND vs ENG: The nine-day gap between the third and fourth Tests of the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was meant to give players from both India and England a chance to rest and regroup. However, for the Indian team, this break has turned into a nightmare due to a series of injuries to key players.
During the Lord’s Test, Rishabh Pant injured his finger, casting doubts on his wicketkeeping duties.
His fitness remains uncertain ahead of the fourth Test, scheduled to begin on June 23 at Old Trafford, Manchester. Additionally, Arshdeep Singh, who was awaiting his Test debut, sustained a cut on his bowling hand during training.
Akash Deep, the hero of India’s victory at Edgbaston, also suffered an injury at Lord’s and is likely to miss the Manchester Test.
The situation worsened with star all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy reportedly injuring his knee in training, potentially ruling him out for the remainder of the series.
These injuries have left Shubman Gill’s Indian team facing a significant selection dilemma. Despite Jasprit Bumrah being fit, the team may need to make at least three changes for the upcoming Test. Here are four potential Playing XI options for India to tackle this crisis in Manchester.
India’s Playing XI Options to Address the Injury Crisis
1) Like-for-Like Replacements
The simplest approach would be to maintain the same team composition, even if it means a slight compromise on quality. This would involve replacing Pant, Nitish, and Akash Deep with Dhruv Jurel, Shardul Thakur, and Prasidh Krishna, respectively.
This option preserves the team’s balance but may lack the individual brilliance of the injured players.
2) Pant as a Specialist Batter
Pant’s batting remains a cornerstone of India’s Test lineup, as demonstrated at Lord’s despite his injury. Even if he is unable to keep wickets, India will be eager to retain his services with the bat.
One option is to play Pant as a specialist batter, with Dhruv Jurel taking over wicketkeeping duties. With Karun Nair’s place in the side already under scrutiny, fitting both Pant and Jurel into the lineup shouldn’t be a challenge.
Alternatively, Jurel could replace Nitish, strengthening the batting alongside Nair, or Sai Sudharsan could be recalled at number three.
3) Including Kuldeep Yadav
India’s boldest decision in the series has been to exclude Kuldeep Yadav from the Playing XI, despite opting for two spinners at both Edgbaston and Lord’s.
Kuldeep is undoubtedly India’s second-most potent wicket-taker after Bumrah, yet the team has prioritized batting depth.
Nitish’s absence could open the door for Kuldeep, though this would mean playing three spinners—a rare move in overseas conditions. India would still have three pace bowling options.
If India opts for a specialist batter (Jurel or Sudharsan) in place of Nitish, Kuldeep could replace Washington Sundar.
4) Anshul Kamboj’s Test Debut
Following the injuries to Arshdeep and Akash Deep, India rushed to call up Anshul Kamboj to the squad.
The pacer earned his maiden national call-up after a stellar domestic season and an impressive performance during last month’s ‘A’ team tour. Given Prasidh Krishna’s struggles in the first two Tests, Kamboj’s debut is a realistic possibility.
His bowling style suits English conditions, offering control, and his handy batting could help India avoid a long tail, ensuring a balanced Playing XI.
India’s Potential Playing XI in Manchester
Option 1: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/Anshul Kamboj
Option 2: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/Anshul Kamboj
Option 3: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair/Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/Anshul Kamboj
Option 4: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair/Sai Sudharsan/Dhruv Jurel, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
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