Injuries have forced Team India to make three changes for the crucial fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, and with the series on the line, skipper Shubman Gill has placed his trust in fresh faces. Sai Sudharsan, Anshul Kamboj, and Shardul Thakur have all been drafted into the XI, as India look to bounce back and level the series 2-2.
The big story is Anshul Kamboj’s Test debut. The Haryana and CSK pacer replaces Akash Deep, who has been ruled out due to a groin injury sustained during the Lord’s Test. Kamboj had been on standby after impressing on the India A tour to England and earning praise in the 2025 IPL. Gill had hinted at his inclusion before the match, saying, “He is very close to making his debut. We’re going to see it tomorrow between him and Prasidh.”
Sai Sudharsan also returns to the XI, replacing Karun Nair, whose inconsistent run across the first three Tests left the door open for a change. Sudharsan, who made his Test debut at Leeds, now gets another opportunity to cement his place in the side, that too, at number three.
The third change sees Shardul Thakur come in for Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to injury. Thakur’s inclusion gives India a pace-bowling all-rounder option in potentially seamer-friendly conditions, even as the pitch is expected to slow down as the match progresses. Thakur’s inclusion means there’s no space for Kuldeep Yadav yet again. The left-arm wrist spinner had backing of all the pundits and fans, but the team management thinks otherwise. Washington Sundar doing well with the ball has also played a massive part in Kuldeep’s exclusion.
India Playing XI vs ENG, 4th Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj
England Playing XI vs IND, 4th Test
Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Liam Dawson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
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