NEW DELHI: India may be forced to abandon its familiar playing combination as it prepares to face a resurgent England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting Wednesday, July 23. Trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, the visitors are looking to end a winless streak at the iconic venue, having never secured a victory there in nine previous attempts—four losses and five draws.
India had settled into a consistent lineup after the opening Test in Leeds, with three all-rounders—Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Reddy—providing both depth and balance. However, Reddy’s series-ending knee injury has disrupted that equilibrium. His timely wickets and lower-order resilience were key, particularly in the third Test at Lord’s.
Shardul Thakur, who featured in the first Test, is the most likely replacement for Reddy. While he adds value with the ball, his batting may not offer the same depth, potentially weakening India’s lower-order resistance. Thakur will need to step up on both fronts if included in the XI.
With Jadeja and Sundar remaining as the two spin-bowling all-rounders, the team management faces a choice: maintain balance by backing Thakur or revert to the Leeds strategy—fielding just one spinner and reinforcing the top six with specialist batters. In that scenario, both Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan, who played at Leeds, may return to the side.
Fitness concerns also linger over pacer Akash Deep, who is recovering from a groin strain. If he fails to make the cut, India could hand a debut to uncapped quick Anshul Kamboj or turn to Prasidh Krishna for additional pace support.
With the series hanging in the balance, India faces a tactical dilemma ahead of a must-win encounter. Whether they stick with their revised formula or take a bold gamble at a ground that’s brought them no luck so far, Old Trafford promises another gripping chapter in this tightly contested series.
