Manchester, England: India’s captain Shubman Gill has confirmed that fast bowler Akash Deep will miss the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford due to a groin injury sustained during the Lord’s Test. His absence leaves India with a crucial decision to make on the final morning, choosing between the uncapped Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna as his replacement.
This development comes as Jasprit Bumrah is set to play his third and final Test of the series as previously planned. The choice between Kamboj and Krishna is significant: Krishna, taller and capable of extracting extra bounce, has an average of 55.16 and an economy rate of 5.33 in the series so far. Kamboj, on the other hand, is considered a more like-for-like replacement for Akash Deep, known for his ability to generate seam movement.
The Kamboj vs. Krishna Dilemma
Gill indicated that Anshul Kamboj is “very close to making his debut” but did not rule out Prasidh Krishna. Krishna’s previous outings saw him asked to bowl short on flat decks.
Kamboj’s batting could also be a factor in his selection. He boasts a first-class batting average of 16.20 and is known for striking the ball hard, with 22 sixes in 24 matches at a strike rate of 73.08 per 100 balls. In contrast, Prasidh has scored only 198 first-class runs at an average of 8.6 per dismissal.
Gill reiterated his full faith in any player from the squad, emphasizing that players are selected because the team believes they “can win us the match,” citing Akash Deep’s earlier inclusion as an example.
Further Injury Concerns and Selection Headaches
Adding to India’s injury woes, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the entire series due to a knee injury, unlike Akash Deep who is expected to be available for the Oval Test. India is likely to replace Reddy with a specialist batter, B Sai Sudharsan. This could also open the door for Shardul Thakur to replace Washington Sundar if the pitch conditions are more seam-friendly.
Pitch Conditions and Batting Order
While the conditions at Old Trafford initially didn’t appear as seam-friendly as expected in rain-hit Manchester, Gill suggested that further drizzle and pitch coverings could lead to more assistance for seam bowlers. “When I saw the wicket yesterday, it didn’t look that damp,” Gill noted. “But obviously now having to look at the weather, I don’t think there is much chance for the wicket to dry that moisture out. So I think there will be a little bit more for the bowlers. And generally at this venue, it’s a little bit quicker than the other venues we have seen. There’s a bit more pace and bounce.”
The batting order also presents an interesting decision, particularly regarding Karun Nair’s position if Sudharsan is recalled. In the first Test where both played, Sudharsan batted at No. 3 and Nair at No. 6. Nair has had starts but hasn’t reached a fifty in three Tests. Gill, however, expressed confidence in Nair’s form. “We think Karun is batting well,” Gill said. “It’s difficult when a player is making comeback in a series like this… Sometimes it’s also about getting that click. Once you’re able to make your fifty, then you’re able to get back into your zone and get some big runs. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened for him so far, but we are hopeful that he will be able to turn it around.”
In positive news for India, Gill confirmed that Rishabh Pant is fit to keep wicket, after a finger injury prevented him from taking the gloves at Lord’s.
India’s likely XI for Fourth Test: 1 KL Rahul, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Karun Nair, 4 Shubman Gill (capt.), 5 Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), 6 B Sai Sudharsan, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Washington Sundar/Shardul Thakur, 9 Anshul Kamboj/Prasidh Krishna, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj.
Given the crucial nature of this match and the selection dilemmas, which fast bowler do you think India should pick, and why?
