India were dealt a fresh injury concern ahead of the fourth Test against England scheduled at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester from July 23 as Arshdeep Singh picked up a cut on his bowling hand during practice on Thursday. The left-arm pacer was injured while trying to stop the ball in the nets. He was quickly taken for medical checks to see if he would need stitches.
This was India’s first training session after losing the third Test at Lord's. With the team trailing 2-1 in the series, the next match in Manchester could seal India's fate.
Arshdeep Singh has not played a Test yet, but with India rotating their fast-bowlers, he was seen as a possible pick if someone like Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj was rested. Arshdeep, who has done well in white-ball cricket and county cricket, was in line for a debut. His injury now puts that on hold.
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Arshdeep Singh Suffers Injury, Adds to India’s Headache Before 4th Test vs England
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate shared details of what happened during training. As revealed by him, the left-arm quick sustained the injury while attempting to stop a ball struck by Sai Sudharsan on his follow-through.
He was immediately attended to by the medical staff and later taken to a doctor to assess whether stitches would be required.
"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," ten Doeschate said as quoted to the media.
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Jasprit Bumrah Likely to Play in Manchester
Bumrah, who was rested for the second Test at Edgbaston, returned for the Lord's fixture and bowled 43 overs in the match. India lost that game by 22 runs. With the series on the line, India would retain their top fast bowler in the playing XI. However, there has been talk around managing his workload carefully.
"We’ll make that call in Manchester. We know we’ve got him for one of the last two Tests. I think it’s pretty obvious the series is on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him," ten Doeschate stated.
India are also monitoring Rishabh Pant, who injured his finger in the Lord’s Test. Captain Shubman Gill said Pant is recovering well and should be fit for the fourth Test.
Also read: "Would Love to See Kuldeep in the XI": Moeen Ali Backs Spinner Ahead of 4th Test
