Team India hit the nets on Thursday, eager to bounce back from their narrow 22-run defeat at Lord’s, but the preparation session brought fresh worries. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh injured his bowling hand during practice, adding to India’s growing list of concerns ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester, starting July 23.The visitors already trail 1-2 in the five-match series and must win both remaining Tests to seal the series. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!However, uncertainty looms over Jasprit Bumrah’s availability. The ace fast bowler featured in the first and third Tests but missed the second as part of workload management. Before the series, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had hinted that Bumrah would not play all five matches. India’s injury woes don’t end there. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant injured his index finger during the tense Lord’s clash, although the extent of the damage remains unclear.
England, too, face a setback. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out of the remaining Tests after fracturing his left little finger while fielding a powerful Ravindra Jadeja drive on Day 3 at Lord’s. The 21-year-old managed to bowl just 5.5 overs in India’s second innings but claimed the final wicket of Mohammed Siraj to seal England’s memorable win. The ECB confirmed that Bashir will undergo surgery later this week and that the squad for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, starting July 23, will be announced soon. Liam Dawson has been brought in as a replacement for Bashir.With both teams grappling with injuries, the upcoming Manchester Test promises to be a high-pressure encounter. For India, the challenge is immense: overcome fitness issues, revive batting resilience, and keep their hopes alive in the series.
