IND vs ENG: If Akash Deep does not play, who will take his place in the playing-11? Prasiddhi and Kamboj are among the contenders.

Posted on 22nd Jul 2025 by rohit kumar

The Indian team has geared up for the fourth Test match against England starting in Manchester from Wednesday. While India will enter this match with the intention of drawing the match, the problems have increased for it due to the injury of the players. All-rounder Nitish Reddy, fast bowler Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep have been injured before the Manchester Test, which has made the challenge of playing-11 difficult for India.

 

Akash shone in the second match.

 

Akash Deep played in the second match of this series, and at that time, he was given a chance in the playing-11 in place of Jasprit Bumrah. Akash had performed brilliantly and contributed significantly to India's victory. For this reason, despite Bumrah playing in the third Test, Akash was successful in retaining his place in the playing-11 and Prasidh Krishna was kept out in the Lord's Test. The situation regarding Bumrah is already clear: he will play only in three matches of the series. In such a situation, considering the injury problem of the players, it is almost certain that Bumrah will play in Manchester. This has also been confirmed by Mohammad Siraj himself.

 

Will Kamboz make his debut?

 

Now, the question arises that if Akash Deep is not fit before the match, then who can be included in the playing-11 in his place? Akash bowled a bit in the practice session before the match, but he did not seem satisfied with it. Prasidh and Anshul Kamboz are contenders to make it to the playing eleven in place of Akash. Prasidh and Kamboz bowled with full force in the practice session, but the physio did not allow Akash to bowl in the net session. He had his fitness evaluated on the main ground under the supervision of coach Morne Morkel. However, he remained a spectator during the net session after this, where Arshdeep Singh was standing with him, who had been ruled out of the match due to a hand injury.

 

If Akash is declared unfit, then the team management will have to select either Prasidh Krishna or Anshul Kamboz for the third fast bowler along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj. Kamboj has joined the team as a replacement for the injured Arshdeep, which has increased the possibility of his unexpected debut. Kamboj also practiced batting with Shardul Thakur after bowling.

 

Pant looked comfortable in the practice session.

Shardul may replace Nitish Kumar Reddy in the XI. During the net session, Siraj bowled the most against batsmen like Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, while Bumrah practiced bowling on the main ground due to slippery conditions at the net session venue. Pant practiced batting and wicketkeeping comfortably in the practice session and looked fit for the fourth Test. During this, Yashasvi Jaiswal paid more attention to fielding practice of slip catches after batting.

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