Manchester: In a significant setback ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Indian all‑rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been officially ruled out of the ongoing Test series against England. The 22‑year‑old suffered knee ligament damage during a gym session on Sunday, and subsequent scans confirmed the severity of the injury .
Key details:
Injury specifics: Reddy reportedly sustained the injury during a mobility workout in Manchester. Initial scans have revealed serious ligament damage, likely sidelining him for the remainder of the England tour .
Impact on squad: After playing in the second and third Tests, including taking three crucial wickets at Lord’s, Reddy’s absence risks unbalancing India’s seam‑bowling resources .
Other concerns: India’s injury woes have deepened as pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep are also doubtful for Manchester. Arshdeep is dealing with a hand injury, while Akash Deep continues to nurse a groin issue .
Cover called up: Young pacer Anshul Kamboj has been summoned as cover, although selectors are still evaluating whether to replace Reddy with another seam‑bowling all‑rounder (like Shardul Thakur) or a specialist batter—perhaps even recalling left‑arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav .
Possible adjustments: With wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant also managing a finger injury, India may opt to utilize Dhruv Jurel as keeper and use Pant purely as a batsman .
India currently trails 2–1 in the five‑match Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy. With the fourth Test set to begin on July 23, team management faces urgent tactical reshuffling and must finalize the squad within days.
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