Due to the escalating injury situation with their pacers, India have confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will participate in the fourth Test, which begins at Old Trafford on Wednesday. “So far, we only know that Jassi (Bumrah) bhai will play,” Mohammed Siraj told the media on Monday. With Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out due to injuries, Siraj said in Manchester that the team combination is "changing day-to-day", but he will bowl with the man whose workload management limits him to only three of the five Tests.

A BCCI press statement on Monday morning stated that India will be two bowlers short going into the Test and that Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj has been selected to the team. Because of a left knee ailment, Nitish Reddy has been ruled out of the last two games. While attempting to block a ball on the follow at the nets, Arshdeep sustained a thumb injury to his bowling arm. Reddy will return home right away.

The BCCI release continued, "Arshdeep suffered an impact injury to his left thumb while bowling in the nets during a training session in Beckenham. The BCCI medical team is monitoring his progress."

Given the groin niggle that Akash Deep is currently experiencing, this means that India has very little flexibility in terms of speed. After pitching the 30th over of the England second innings in the Lord's Test, Akash was observed limping around a bit. "Akash Deep has a groin issue, physios are examining him," Siraj said of his arrival at the plate as night watchman. "He also bowled in the morning." Still waiting for input from physio. Arshdeep's injury has led to Anshul's arrival. I hope he does well.

Even after the Lord's Test, the bowling lineup still seems like a no-brainer at first glance. Shardul Thakur should return as the pace bowling all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja should partner with Washington Sundar in leading the spin attack, and Bumrah should share the new ball with Siraj. However, to emerge victorious from the series, India must win both this Test and the one after. Given that India cannot afford to make any mistakes, this is a high request.

Rain is predicted for the first, second, and fifth days of the Test at Old Trafford, which might also be impacted by the weather. India may be tempted to switch out Reddy for Sai Sudharsan, a batter, and Thakur for Sundar, a seamer, in response to prolonged overcast weather and a pitch under the covers, as this might be more successful than using a second spinner. Thakur is more likely to be selected over Sundar because India cannot afford to lose a batting option if the weather is predicted to become worse.

The third fast bowler for India is anybody's guess. Prasidh Krishna may return if Akash isn't in good shape. But Krishna's series average of 55.16 and economy of 5.33, which he recorded throughout the first two Tests, may make it more difficult to select him. In the first Test at Leeds, he captured five wickets, but England destroyed his short delivery. Krishna's economy in the Birmingham Test was also 5.53 in the first innings before it rose to 2.78 in the second.

The addition of Kamboj, a 24-year-old pacer from Haryana, is what makes this intriguing. The India was included in the Kamboj A team for the two unofficial games against England Lions. In the second match, he scored an undefeated 51 in a 149-run partnership with Tanush Kotian and also grabbed four wickets. It is, therefore, not unreasonable to categorize Thakur and Kamboj together in the medium-pacer all-rounder category. In addition to being just the third Indian to ever capture all 10 wickets in an innings in the Ranji Trophy (against Kerala last year), Kamboj has also earned his stripes. He can deliver the ball to seam and therefore be a suitable replacement for Akash, who is having trouble getting back in shape.

However, a shift in the bowling lineup only increases the pressure on Bumrah and Siraj. Although Bumrah has been used judiciously thus far, Siraj has demonstrated that he is an indefatigable worker for India, bowling 109 overs over three Tests and improving with each outing. And that is what we intend to keep doing. "Our plan is to keep bowling in good areas considering how England plays," said Siraj. "We want them to play (bat) with patience like they did in the last match. We were happy that we played real Test cricket.

Read Also: Brook Says Bumrah’s Fiery Over Fueled England’s Comeback at Lord’s: ‘Time to Return the Fire’

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