India have suffered a fresh injury blow ahead of the fourth Test against England, with fast bowler Akash Deep officially ruled out. The news was confirmed by Indian skipper Shubman Gill during the pre-match press conference at Old Trafford, Manchester.
“Never easy when there are injuries. Nitish is missing and Akash is also unavailable for this match,” Gill said. This comes after Nitish Kumar Reddy was earlier declared unfit, leaving India to reassess its bowling resources for the crucial Test.
Despite the back-to-back setbacks, Gill remained upbeat about India’s bowling options. “We have good enough players to take 20 wickets,” he added, underlining the team’s belief in its depth and bench strength.
Akash Deep had impressed in the Test series and was widely expected to retain his place. However, his unavailability has now opened the door for Anshul Kamboj, who is likely to make his Test debut in Manchester. The 24-year-old seamer has shown promise in domestic cricket and could be handed the cap.
With the series standing at 2-1 in England’s favor, India will be under pressure to bounce back and level the five-match series. The team’s ability to regroup and perform without key players will be tested in this high-stakes encounter.
'Absolute Buff': Ravi Shastri Reveals Kuldeep Yadav Is A Football Fanatic, Calls Him An "Expert"; Video
During a recent episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast, former India head coach Ravi Shastri shed light on an interesting off-field side of Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Speaking with Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Phil Tufnell, Shastri shared a light-hearted anecdote about Kuldeep’s deep love for football, describing him as an “absolute buff.”
“You know in our (Indian) cricket team, you've got some real fanatics. I don't know who Kuldeep supports, but he is a football buff. Absolute buff. He can be an expert,” Shastri said with a laugh. “If he's not playing these Test matches, the topic inside will be football.”
Shastri’s revelation highlighted the growing connection between cricket and football among modern cricketers. Kuldeep Yadav, who is known for his crafty wrist spin on the field, appears to be equally passionate about the beautiful game off it. Although Shastri did not confirm which club or country Kuldeep backs, he emphasized that the 30-year-old spinner has an in-depth knowledge of football and could easily hold his own in a room full of experts.
As fans eagerly wait to see Kuldeep weave his magic in whites again, they can now also imagine him just as animatedly discussing formations, transfers, and match results in the dressing room.
