India will be without fast bowler Akash Deep for the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, captain Shubman Gill confirmed on Tuesday. The setback opens the door for Anshul Kamboj, who is in line to make his Test debut.
Kamboj was added to India’s squad on Monday after Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out of the tour with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh has also been sidelined due to fitness concerns, further reducing India’s pace options.
With Deep struggling from a groin strain, India’s final decision for the fourth Test will come down to Kamboj or Prasidh Krishna, according to Gill.
“Never easy when there are injuries in the squad,” Gill told reporters.
“Nitish is out for the series, Akash is unavailable for this match, and Arshdeep won’t be playing either.
But we’ve got quality bowlers capable of taking 20 wickets—that’s been the biggest challenge this series.”
“Anshul is very close to making his debut,” Gill added. “We’ll make a final call between him and Prasidh tomorrow.”
Spotlight on Karun Nair’s Form
While India’s top order has shown consistency, questions remain over Karun Nair, who has scored just 131 runs in six innings, with a high of 40.
“Karun’s batting has been solid,” said Gill.
“In the first match, he didn’t even bat at his usual position. When you’re returning to the side in a high-stakes series, it takes time.
One good innings—a fifty—can help him settle and build confidence.”
Tension at Lord’s: Gill Addresses Verbal Clash
Gill also commented on his on-field confrontation with England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley during the third Test at Lord’s.
“They were 90 seconds late getting out to bat,” Gill explained.
“Not 10 minutes, but 90 seconds—and that still breaks the agreed timing. Yes, teams try to slow things down strategically. We might do the same.
But there’s a proper way to do it. If a batter is hit, the physio can come on—that’s within the rules.
But intentionally delaying the start by stepping onto the field late isn’t in the spirit of the game.”
England currently leads the five-match series 2-1, with the fourth Test set to begin on Wednesday at Old Trafford, Manchester.
SETTING THE MOOD WITH SHOW SPORT
Show Sports is South Africa’s leading hub for premium sports content and world-class tournaments. We bring fans closer to the action with a wide array of major sporting events and competitive tournaments across the country.