MANCHESTER, July 22, 2025 — In a major boost for Team India ahead of the fourth Test against England, captain Shubman Gill confirmed that Rishabh Pant will return to wicketkeeping duties. Pant had sustained a finger injury during the third Test at Lord’s, which limited his time behind the stumps. However, after a full two-hour training session on Monday, the dynamic left-hander has been deemed fit to take up the gloves once again when play begins at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
This update comes amid a series of injury setbacks for the Indian side. All-rounder Nitish Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the five-match series due to injury, while pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep are also unavailable. Akash, who showed signs of discomfort with his hip during the Lord’s Test, will miss the upcoming match. In their absence, India has drafted young pacer Anshul Kamboj into the squad.
Gill, speaking to the media, expressed confidence in Kamboj’s ability and suggested that the Haryana speedster is in contention to make his debut. “We have seen his skill set. We believe he can win matches for us. Kamboj is close to making his debut tomorrow. You’ll see whether it’s him or Prasidh Krishna,” said the Indian skipper.
Pant’s return brings relief after Dhruv Jurel’s below-par performance in the third Test, where he conceded 25 byes during England’s second innings. The match eventually tilted in favour of the home side, who edged India out by 22 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Despite the mounting injuries, Gill remains optimistic about the team’s chances. “It’s never easy when there are injuries. But we have good enough players to take 20 wickets,” he asserted.
Gill also defended under-fire batter Karun Nair, who has failed to convert his starts into substantial scores. “We think he is batting well. In the first match, he didn’t play at his regular number. Once he gets to 50, he’ll get in the zone. We’re hopeful he can turn it around,” he added.
India will now look to level the series in Manchester, riding on Pant’s return and the possible debut of a new pace talent. With both teams aware of the high stakes, the fourth Test promises another gripping chapter in an already fiercely contested series.
