Team India's preparations for the crucial fourth Test against England have been dealt a significant blow with the news that promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a knee injury. The injury occurred during a gym session in Manchester on Sunday, with scans revealing ligament damage. This setback adds to the existing injury concerns within the Indian camp, increasing the pressure ahead of the must-win Test at Old Trafford, commencing on July 23.
Reddy's absence is a significant loss, as India has consistently fielded a seam-bowling all-rounder in the series thus far. After sitting out the first Test, Reddy featured in the second and third Tests, showing promise with both bat and ball. While his impact was minimal in the second Test, he made crucial contributions in the Lord's Test, dismissing England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in the same over during the first innings, and then getting Crawley out again in the second innings.
The injury woes don't end with Reddy. Fast bowlers Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh are also nursing injuries, making them doubtful for the fourth Test. Arshdeep Singh is dealing with a cut on his bowling hand sustained during a training session, potentially requiring stitches. Akash Deep is reported to have a groin niggle. In response to these setbacks, Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj has been added to the squad as a seam-bowling replacement.
Adding to the team's challenges, key players like Jasprit Bumrah are under workload management. It was decided before the tour that Bumrah would only play three Tests in the series. While Bumrah featured in the first and third Tests, the team is "leaning towards" including him in the fourth Test, especially after an eight-day break between the third and fourth matches.
Furthermore, wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant suffered an injury to his left index finger during the first innings of the Lord's Test. The team management might consider playing him as a pure batter in the fourth Test to avoid risking further aggravation of the injury while keeping.
The absence of several key players has forced the team to rethink their strategy and combination for the upcoming Test. Several players including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy skipped the optional net session on Sunday. With limited options and injury concerns looming, the team faces a selection dilemma in choosing the right XI for the crucial match. Options include Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav.
Despite the setbacks, the Indian team remains determined to bounce back in the series. The team had an indoor training session in Manchester due to rain. The players also had an opportunity to bond with Manchester United stars. The team will need to regroup and find the right combination to overcome the challenges and level the series.
