Team India has suffered a significant setback ahead of the crucial fourth Test against England, with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh likely to be unavailable due to a hand injury. The injury occurred during a net practice session in Beckenham, where Arshdeep was attempting to stop a shot from Sai Sudharsan on his follow-through. The incident resulted in a cut on his bowling hand that required stitches, casting serious doubt on his participation in the upcoming match.
Arshdeep, who is yet to make his Test debut, was considered a potential inclusion in the playing XI for the fourth Test, especially with concerns surrounding the workload management of senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. With India trailing 2-1 in the five-match series, the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester is a must-win game for the visitors.
"He took a ball while he was bowling there, Sai hit a ball and he tried to stop it and it's just a cut," said assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. "So we have to see how bad the cut is. Obviously, the medical team has taken him off to see a doctor and obviously if he needs stitches or doesn't need stitches that's going to be important to our planning for the next few days,".
The injury to Arshdeep further complicates India's team selection, as they are already grappling with fitness concerns regarding other players. Fast bowler Akash Deep is reportedly dealing with a groin niggle and did not bowl during India's net session before the team's departure for Manchester. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is also under observation after injuring his index finger during the third Test at Lord's. Despite the injury, Pant is expected to bat in the fourth Test, but a decision on whether he will keep wickets is yet to be made.
If both Bumrah and Arshdeep are unavailable, the likely options to replace them would be Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur, though neither has performed well recently. The team management will have to assess the fitness of Akash Deep before making a final decision on the playing XI.
The absence of Arshdeep is a blow to India's chances in the fourth Test, as he would have provided a valuable left-arm option to exploit the Manchester conditions. His injury has also intensified the workload concerns surrounding Bumrah and Siraj, with the latter having bowled the most overs (109) by an Indian bowler in the series so far. The team management will need to carefully manage their workload to ensure they remain in peak condition for the remainder of the series.
Despite these injury setbacks, India will be determined to bounce back in the fourth Test and level the series. The team has shown resilience throughout the tour and will be looking to draw inspiration from their dominant 336-run victory in the second Test at Birmingham. With the series on the line, India will need to put in a collective effort to overcome the challenges and secure a positive result in Manchester.
