The Indian team received another injury blow on Sunday when all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out of the remaining two matches of the Test series due to a ligament injury. The news comes on the heels of pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep were ruled out of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, prompting the selection committee to include Haryana seamer Anshul Kamboj in the squad as back-up.
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Reddy played the second and third Tests against England and had scores of 1,1, 30 and 13 while taking three wickets. It is not yet clear whether the selection committee will send another player as Reddy’s replacement.
It is learnt that Reddy informed the team management on Sunday morning that he felt some discomfort while stretching, and scans showed a tear, and the player could be on the sidelines for a few weeks.
The visitors are 1-2 behind after three Tests of the series, with the fourth match beginning on Wednesday. The selectors and team management will now have to make at least two changes to the playing XI from the Lord’s Test, as Akash Deep and Reddy will not be available.
The 26-year-old Arshdeep suffered a cut on his bowling hand during a net session on Thursday while stopping a ball hit by Sai Sudharsan on his follow-through. The hand was stitched up but he won’t be fit for the fourth Test. He hasn’t played a Test yet but could have been in line for a debut in case the team management went for a change in the pace attack.
Akash Deep has a groin niggle and didn’t bowl in the nets before the team left for Manchester.
Currently, the Indian team has a pace-bowling all-rounder in Shardul Thakur in the squad.
