The indian dressing room has welcomed a 24-year-old Anshul Kamboj as a debutant in the 4th Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. The young pacer fetched his cap from Indian commentator Deep Dasgupta, marking it as a TEST CAP NO. 318.
The Haryana pacer, who outperformed in India A’s matches against the England Lions, was originally sent back but later rejoined the squad in Manchester following the injury concerns surrounding India. In the second game held in Northampton, he clinched four dismissals for India A, with two coming in a single over of the second innings.
In his first-class career, Kamboj shone with 79 dismissals in just 24 matches while representing Haryana. He has also displayed his stunning knock with the bat, to mark an unbeaten 149-run partnership with Tanush Kotian, propelling India to a draw in Nottingham.
India faces a growing injury crisis ahead of the crucial fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, starting July 23 at Old Trafford, Manchester. Captain Shubman Gill has confirmed that seamer Akash Deep has been ruled out due to injury, while young pacer Anshul Kamboj is “very close” to making his Test debut.
India’s bowling unit has taken a heavy hit on this tour. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been ruled out of the Manchester Test after sustaining an impact injury to his left thumb during a training session in Beckenham. Meanwhile, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the series with a left knee injury.
“It’s never easy when there are a few injuries in the squad,” said Gill during the pre-match press conference. “Akash Deep is unavailable for the next match, so is Arshdeep, but we have enough good players to pick up twenty wickets. We’ve seen Anshul enough, and the skillset he brings is exactly what we want.”
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will return behind the stumps after missing part of the Lord’s Test due to a hand injury. He had scored a fighting 74 in the first innings despite the setback.
India trails 1-2 in the five-match series, having lost the Lord’s Test by 22 runs. With the home side just one win away from clinching the series, the Manchester Test is a must-win for India if they hope to stay alive in the contest and break their Test series drought in England, which dates back to 2007.
With the match set to begin on July 23, all eyes will be on Anshul Kamboj, who has received his Test cap.
