India pacer Arshdeep Singh suffered an injury while training ahead of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. After the practice session, India coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed the development, stating that the southpaw has got a cut while fielding and the doctors are in constant touch with the player to understand its nature.
In the meantime, Doeschate also indicated that India’s planning will be affected if Arshdeep fails to recover ahead of the fourth Test. Since the team management previously noted that Jasprit Bumrah will only play three Test matches, Arshdeep could be a vital cog in India’s bowling line-up for the remaining two matches, especially after Prasidh Krishna failed to justify his worth.
“He took a ball, while he was bowling there, the side of the ball; he tried to stop the ball. It's just a cut, so we have to see how bad the cut is. Obviously, the medical team is taking him to see a doctor, and if he needs stitches, that is going to be important to our planning for the next few days,” Doeschate informed the press after the practice session.
India likely to make only one change
After suffering a 22-run defeat at Lord’s, the Shubman Gill-led side is likely to make just one change to their squad in the fourth Test. Out-of-form Karun Nair is very likely to get dropped, with either Sai Sudharsan or Dhurv Jurel replacing him in the playing XI. On the other hand, Bumrah is very likely to play the fourth Test, especially as the visitors are currently trailing 2-1 in the series.
Meanwhile, it needs to be seen if Arshdeep is deemed fit and is added to the squad. In such a case, Mohammed Siraj might be handed a break to manage his workload. Arshdeep can add a different dynamic, which could be key.