ENG vs IND 2025: Team India’s Old Trafford Test preparations – Injury updates, Squad changes, and Probable XI.
India come into the fourth Test of the five-match series in Manchester after their 22-run defeat at Lord’s. They are now behind in the series by a margin of 2-1. The visitors have a stiff job on their hands to equal the scoreline in a ground where they have played nine Test encounters and faced four defeats. Moreover, they are yet to taste a red-ball victory in the venue.
Despite the win, England were docked two World Test Championship (WTC) points for their slow over rate. They are now in the third position in the points table of the 2025-27 season with 61.11 percent. The Shubman Gill-led side, on the other hand, is behind them at four with a pct of 33.33.
The week’s gap came as a boon for the bowlers, who had two tough weeks at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
Let’s take a look at how the India players have prepared for the Old Trafford Test:
India suffer several injuries before Manchester mission
The nine-day break hasn’t been sweet for the visiting side. On the morning of July 20, two of their fast bowlers, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh, picked up injuries. The former picked up a groin niggle at Lord’s while the left-arm pacer hurt his bowling hand in his follow-through at the nets in Beckenham. India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, pointed out that the injury to the Punjab-born would hamper their planning.
At training, the Bengal pacer didn’t bat or bowl but was under the observation of trainer Adrain Le Roux. Ten Doeschate also wanted to be cautious of Mohammed Siraj’s workload management. The Hyderabad-born has already bowled 109 overs in four weeks, which is the most among the visiting bowlers.
Reports claimed that the board added Anshul Kamboj as cover for the final two Tests. The Haryana fast bowler, who has picked up 79 FC wickets in 41 innings, was part of the two India A games before the series.
By evening, ESPNcricinfo revealed that India’s all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, would be ruled out of the remainder of the trip. He picked up the issue while training in the gym due to a ligament tissue damage. Their assistant coach indicated that they ‘are leaning towards’ keeping Jasprit Bumrah at Old Trafford. Reddy’s injury would open the door for one of Jurel Dhruv Jurel or a seam all-rounder, Shardul Thakur in the eleven.
🚨 Squad Update: Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of the series. Arshdeep Singh ruled out of fourth Test 🚨
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 21, 2025
The Men’s Selection Committee has added Anshul Kamboj to the squad.
More details here – https://t.co/qx1cRCdGs0 #TeamIndia #ENGvIND
Read More: India have slipped to no. 4 in ICC Test Rankings: Is there a way to arrest the slide?
India keep cards open for Rishabh Pant as specialist batter
On July 19, Jurel had a long net session with the wicket-keeping gloves. Later, he moved to the batting nets and faced the bowling coach, Morne Morkel, from 20 yards, testing his outside edge on the off stump. The right-handed batter displayed his clarity and commitment during his 90-run knock in Ranchi against the same opponent. He didn’t get the chance in the eleven only because of Pant.
Ryan Ten Doeschate said that Jurel remained a viable option for Old Trafford next week. Meanwhile, Pant did not keep wickets at Lord’s after he hurt his left index finger while intercepting a leg-side delivery from Bumrah. Jurel also went through the keeping drills under fielding coach T Dilip.
In case of Jurel’s selection, one of Washington Sundar or Reddy will have to warm the benches. The pace all-rounder’s potential injury can make the choice easy for the management.
Read More: ICC Rankings: Gill drops to no. 9; Bumrah & Jadeja continue to top bowlers & all-rounders list
Jasprit Bumrah to play the Manchester Test?
In Beckenham, Bumrah bowled with full rhythm. The question is, will India play him in the fourth Test in Manchester or rest him until the final game at the Oval? Their assistant coach didn’t give a clear answer but hinted that they would lean towards Bumrah playing at Old Trafford.
‘We know we have got him for one of the last two Tests. It’s pretty obvious that the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him. But again, we have got to look at all the factors: how many days of cricket are we going to get up there, what do we feel is our best chance of winning that game.’ Ryan Ten Doeschate informed.
The Ahmedabad-born is the second leading wicket-taker of the series with 12 scalps. In two matches, he has an average of 21 with two five-wicket hauls.
The visitors need to get many things right in Manchester. It will start with their number three. After six failures of 131 runs, Karun Nair is expected to get dropped. Now the question is whether they will bring back Sai Sudharsan or hand the debut cap to Abhimanyu Easwaran at number three.
If they play Bumrah, then what will be their next step at the Oval? Will they give a cap to Kamboj in such a high-pressure fixture? After all of these, they can’t afford to make a mistake and slip at this position.
Probable Playing XI: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan or Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
Read More: ENG vs IND, 2025: India batters’ report card after 3 Tests
