IND vs ENG: The Indian men’s cricket team is all set to take on England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester from July 23 to 27. After a narrow 22-run loss in the third Test at Lord’s, the visitors will be desperate to bounce back and level the five-match series.
However, injury concerns and workload management could lead to major changes in the squad, with two of India’s key players – Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant—likely to miss out.
IND vs ENG: Bumrah’s rest is strategic, not surprising
Jasprit Bumrah, the current No. 1 Test bowler in the world, has been India’s spearhead in this series. However, he could be rested for the Manchester Test as part of a planned workload strategy. This is not entirely surprising.
Before the tour began, the selectors and coaching staff, including skipper Shubman Gill and Bumrah, had confirmed that the pacer would play only three of the five Tests.
Having already played two Tests, missing the fourth Test will give him time to recover ahead of the crucial final Test at the Oval.
Pant’s injury opens the door for Jurel
Another possibility of absence is Rishabh Pant, who suffered a finger injury on the first day of the Lord’s Test.
The severity of the injury is still unclear, but since he did not keep wicket after 34 overs in the first innings, he is likely to be ruled out of the fourth Test.
Dhruv Jurel, a 24-year-old wicketkeeper from Agra, could replace him.
Jural had impressed with both the bat and wicketkeeping in his previous matches, scoring 202 runs in six innings across four Tests.
His best score—90 against England in Ranchi—shows that he is fully capable of handling the dual responsibility of wicketkeeping and lower-order batting.
Sudarshan is likely to return in place of Karun Nair
Karun Nair has not performed well in the first three Tests. Given the increasing pressure and the need for new players, Sai Sudarshan may return to the team.
Sudarshan opened the innings in the first Test at Leeds, but was dropped from the team for the next two matches.
If he is brought back into the team, the left-handed batsman will bring variety and youthful aggression to the batting order.
Bumrah replacement: Will Arshdeep Singh join the team?
With Bumrah rested, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh could be included in the bowling department.
Known for his accuracy and swing, Arshdeep offers an option for a left-arm bowler that has been missing from the Indian attack so far.
His presence will provide strategic depth and balance along with Mohammed Siraj and Akashdeep.
Other options include Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur, while Kuldeep Yadav remains a wildcard option if India opt for two main spinners along with Washington Sundar.
India’s probable playing XI for the fourth Test against England
Here’s a look at what the playing XI could look like:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudarshan
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Akashdeep
- Mohammed Siraj
What these changes could mean for India
India’s probable changes will see a mix of youth and strategic flexibility. Jurel would be a great replacement for Pant, both in terms of wicketkeeping and scoring runs in the lower order. Sudharsan’s return could infuse life into the top order, while Arshdeep’s left-arm pace would make a much-needed difference against an England batting lineup dominated by right-handers.
By managing Bumrah’s workload wisely and giving opportunities to in-form players, India are adding depth to the squad not just for the current series, but for the long haul in Test cricket.
Will India be able to level the series?
The fourth Test is crucial. With England leading the series and playing at home, the pressure is mounting. Still, India have shown resilience in the past even in the face of adversity—think Gabba 2021 or Lord’s 2021. The infusion of new players and minds could be the key to turning the tables at Old Trafford.
It will be a fierce contest with both teams looking to dominate. If India’s probable playing XI lives up to its promise, we could end up at the Oval with the series in limbo.
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