The Indian cricket team is trying to forget the defeat at Lord's and level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series in the fourth Test match, which will start on Wednesday, 23 July at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Let's take a look at what happened on 20 July, which is related to India's tour of England 2025.
Anshul Kamboj Joins India Squad
India's preparations for the fourth Test in Manchester have been impacted by injuries to fast bowlers Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh, likely ruling them out of the match. In response, selectors have added Haryana's Anshul Kamboj as cover for the final two Tests of the series.
Arshdeep injured his bowling hand in a training session, while Akash Deep is dealing with a groin strain. The fourth Test, starting on July 23 at Old Trafford, is crucial, as India could either level the series or lose the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
At training in Beckenham, Akash Deep participated in fitness drills but did not bowl or bat. The severity of their injuries will be evaluated during a media briefing on Monday, although both players traveled to Manchester from London on Saturday.
Indian Team Meet Manchester United Players
Ahead of the highly anticipated game, Indian cricket players met members of Manchester United. Photos shared by Adidas on Instagram show Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant playing football with the Red Devils, while Mohammed Siraj bowled to Harry Maguire.
During their preseason, Manchester United players interacted with the Indian stars. Gill posed with Bruno Fernandes, Siraj was with Amad Diallo, Jasprit Bumrah chatted with Mason Mount and Maguire, and coach Gautam Gambhir met Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United will start their 2025-26 Premier League campaign at home against Arsenal on August 17.
Rishabh Pant's Cryptic Post
Everyone is curious about whether star player Rishabh Pant will be fit to play in the Manchester Test. He injured his finger in the last game but still managed to bat. Recently, he shared a video of himself training hard, showcasing his batting, running, and fielding without apparent pain. His caption read, "If calm had a sound, it should be this."
Many speculate he is planning to play in the Manchester Test. The coach had previously confirmed Pant would bat, but it was uncertain if he could keep wickets, a role taken over by Dhruv Jurel due to the injury.
Ryan ten Doeschate stated, “He will bat in Manchester before the Test. I don’t think you can keep Rishabh out of the Test. He batted through pain in the third Test, and it should get easier on his finger. Wicketkeeping is the last part of the process; we don’t want to replace the keeper halfway through an innings.”
Raina's Bold Prediction
Former India international Suresh Raina has expressed confidence that the team will secure victories at both Old Trafford and The Oval to win the series 3-2.
"They will do it (win the series). They possess the desire, perseverance, and determination needed. Gill will make his mark both as a batter and as a captain. I believe he has performed exceptionally well," Raina said on Sunday.
This is indeed a bold prediction, especially considering the injury troubles that have affected the team ahead of the penultimate match of the series.
