The Indian team’s injury crisis has opened the door for a new face in whites. Anshul Kamboj, the promising Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer, has officially made his Test debut for India in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. The 23-year-old was drafted into the squad after Akash Deep was ruled out due to a groin injury sustained during the Lord’s Test.
Official Test Debut for Kamboj
Kamboj’s debut comes at a critical juncture of the series, with India trailing 1-2 in the five-match battle. He replaces Akash Deep, who had impressed in his short stint but could not recover in time from the niggle that forced him off the field on Day 4 at Lord’s. Kamboj’s inclusion had been speculated earlier, with his brother even confirming the development to the media before the BCCI made it official. Former keeper Deep DasGupta handed Kamboj his Test cap.
The Karnal-born pacer caught the selectors’ attention with his sharp spells during India A’s tour of England last month, where he bagged five wickets in three matches.
Deserving call-up for Kamboj
Kamboj’s red-ball credentials are rock solid. He made headlines earlier this year by taking all 10 wickets in an innings in a Ranji Trophy match against Kerala, becoming only the sixth Indian ever to achieve the feat. He finished the Ranji season with 34 wickets in six games and was also a key part of Haryana’s victorious Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, boasting the best economy rate (4.56) among all pacers.
Though he debuted in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians, it was the Chennai Super Kings who invested ₹3.40 crore in him at the 2025 mega auction. The move paid off, with Kamboj claiming 8 wickets in 8 games, earning praise from CSK coach Stephen Fleming for his swing and temperament. Fleming was one of the first cricketing minds to call Kamboj a perfect fit for English conditions.
Anshul Kamboj Career Stats
| Format | Inn | Wickets | Econ | Avg | Best | 5W | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 11 | 10 | 9.08 | 28.60 | 3/13 | 0 | 18.90 |
| First Class | 41 | 79 | 3.10 | 22.89 | 10/49 | 2 | 44.23 |
| List A | 25 | 40 | 4.14 | 20.20 | 4/22 | 0 | 29.25 |
| T20 | 19 | 24 | 7.35 | 16.79 | 3/12 | 0 | 13.71 |
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