India`s preparations for the pivotal fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy suffered a minor setback on Thursday as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh sustained a hand injury during a practice session in Beckenham. This comes just days before the must-win Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, scheduled from July 23 to 27.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed the injury during a media interaction, providing clarity on the nature of the issue. “He took a ball, while he was bowling there, the side of the ball; he tried to stop the ball. It`s just a cut, so we have to see how bad the cut is. Obviously, the medical team is taking him to see a doctor, and if he needs stitches, that is going to be important to our planning for the next few days,” he said.
#WATCH | Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh has sustained an injury ahead of the fourth Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. Visuals from Team India`s practice session in Beckenham, United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/8aDucLFEPS
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2025
The injury comes at a crucial juncture in the five-match series, with India trailing 2-1 after a heartbreaking 22-run defeat at Lord’s. Despite dominating much of the game, India fell short in the final innings, with Mohammed Siraj’s unfortunate dismissal, when the ball rolled back onto the stumps, bringing an end to the team’s resistance. Ravindra Jadeja was left stranded, unable to complete the chase.
Jasprit Bumrah stood out in the Lord’s Test, claiming a seven-wicket haul, including a five-for in the first innings. His performance kept India competitive, and his availability for the Manchester Test remains a key talking point heading into the fourth match.
Following the Lord’s setback, the Indian squad traveled to Beckenham to make use of the extended nine-day gap between the third and fourth Tests. Training sessions have focused on recovery, fitness, and fine-tuning strategies as India aim to bounce back in the series.
Arshdeep, who recently earned his maiden Test call-up, has been a rising star in India’s pace department, especially in white-ball formats. He is the country’s leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals over the past year and has experience bowling in English conditions. In 2023, after a strong IPL campaign where he took 17 wickets, he represented Kent in the County Championship, collecting 13 wickets in five matches.
His injury, though not serious at first glance, adds another layer of uncertainty to India`s bowling combination ahead of the Manchester Test. With the series on the line, the team management will be cautious in handling the situation, especially given the physical demands of back-to-back high-pressure matches.
A clearer picture of Arshdeep’s availability is expected in the coming days as the team arrives in Manchester on July 19.
