India’s tour of England continues to be a challenging one for young left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. In what could be another setback for both the player and the team, Arshdeep sustained a hand injury during a practice session on July 17 (Thursday), just days before the crucial fourth Test in Manchester, starting July 23 (Wednesday).
Arshdeep Singh Injured During Nets Session Ahead of Manchester Test
Arshdeep, who has yet to make his Test debut for India, was reportedly being considered for selection after India’s loss at Lord’s. The team management was keen on including a left-arm pacer to shake up the bowling attack. However, those plans have been thrown into uncertainty following his injury during the net session.
According to The Indian Express, the injury occurred when Arshdeep attempted to stop a powerful drive from Sai Sudharsan during practice. The ball struck his bowling hand, resulting in a cut. While the severity of the injury is still being assessed, it has cast serious doubt on his availability for the Manchester Test.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed the incident, saying:
“Arshdeep took a ball while he was bowling there, Sai hit a ball and he tried to stop it and it’s just a cut. So we have to see how bad the cut is. Obviously, the medical team have taken him off to see a doctor and obviously, if he needs stitches or doesn’t need stitches it’s going to be important to our planning for the next few days.”
Team India Faces Selection Dilemma Amid Injury Concerns
The injury to Arshdeep comes at a particularly tough time for India. With Jasprit Bumrah expected to be rested for one of the remaining matches—he is scheduled to play only three Tests in the five-match series—India was hoping to bring in Arshdeep as a potential replacement.
If Arshdeep fails to recover in time, India’s options for the Manchester Test could narrow down to Nitish Kumar Reddy or Akash Deep, who impressed in the previous game in Birmingham. Should Arshdeep recover in time, the management will face a tough call on whom to leave out.
As the countdown to the Manchester Test begins, all eyes will be on the fitness update of Arshdeep Singh. A timely recovery could finally hand him his long-awaited Test debut. If not, the team will need to reshuffle once again to fill the gap left by his absence.
