After two disappointing injury updates, Team India fans have something to cherish. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced earlier today that Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the India vs England Test series. Arshdeep Singh has been ruled out of the Manchester Test as well.
Rishabh Pant resumes wicketkeeping
Akash Deep’s participation also seems uncertain. The fast bowler had back and hip issues at Lord’s. But the fourth injury update looks rather promising. Rishabh Pant, who suffered a blow on his left index finger, might be fit for the India vs England 4th Test.
The southpaw was spotted with his wicketkeeping gloves for the first time since July 10. Just two days away from playing at Old Trafford, Pant has picked up the gloves again. This bodes well for Team India. After Shubman Gill, Pant has been India’s best batter in the series.
He has scored two fifties and two hundreds in 6 innings. His presence is essential if India wishes to make a comeback in the series; they are behind by 1-2. But this isn’t great for Dhruv Jurel. Having come on as a temporary wicketkeeper for Pant, Jurel had done well behind the stumps.
He had also performed exceptionally well for India A in the lead-up to the series. Jurel might have had his hopes to play, but if Pant is match fit, it’s unlikely he’ll play. The only other one he might play is as a replacement for Nitish Reddy. That way, he might play at number six or seven and might as well take the gloves.
India’s squad for 4th England Test
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj
