Anshul Kamboj has been living life in the fast lane. Just a day after the BCCI officially named him in India’s Test squad for the final two matches against England, the young pacer Anshul Kamboj had his first full-fledged net session ahead of the must-win fourth Test. The training session in Manchester has since fueled speculation that the team management could hand him his debut cap on Wednesday at Old Trafford.
According to a report in the Times of India, Anshul Kamboj bowled over 45 minutes in the nets with the new ball and was spotted having “multiple discussions” with head coach Gautam Gambhir. Anshul Kamboj was also seen engaging in conversations with senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, picking their brain. The report noted that Anshul Kamboj showed consistencies in his deliveries to the Indian top-order – KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill.
Anshul Kamboj was added to the squad after India suffered a triple blow on Sunday. Arshdeep Singh received stitches on his hand after being hit by the ball last week in the nets. BCCI ruled him out of the fourth Test in Manchester.
Anshul Kamboj added to the Indian squad marred with injuries for their pace bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep
India’s preparations for the fourth Test in Manchester have taken a hit with two of their fast bowlers, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh, picking up injuries that are likely to rule them out of the match. ESPNcricinfo has learned the selectors have decided to add Haryana fast bowler Anshul Kamboj as cover for the final two Tests of the five-match series.
While Arshdeep hurt his bowling hand in his follow through during a training session in Beckenham on Thursday, Akash Deep has picked up a groin niggle. The fourth Test, which starts on July 23 at Old Trafford, is vital for both teams as India could either draw level with England or lose the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, in case there is a result.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had pointed out on Thursday that Arshdeep’s injury would impact India’s planning, and the team’s concerns have now deepened with doubts over Akash Deep. The right-arm quick played a key role in India drawing level in Birmingham with a 10-wicket match haul. In the next Test at Lord’s, he picked up just one wicket, struggling to find rhythm from the Pavilion End. He also walked off the field on the fourth afternoon to get some treatment, though it could not confirmed at the time what the issue was.
At training in Beckenham, Akash Deep did not bowl or bat, but did fitness drills under the observation of trainer Adrian Le Roux. Whether the injuries are serious or not will only be known by Monday when India will have a media briefing, but both Akash Deep and Arshdeep travelled to Manchester from London on Saturday.
India now find themselves in a tight spot, and the question of Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in Manchester becomes more critical. Ten Doeschate had admitted that, with the with the series on the line, India would be “leaning towards” playing Bumrah in the fourth Test, but his selection would come down to several other factors including the weather in Manchester and the fitness of the other bowler.
Mohammed Siraj, the only India fast bowler to have played all three Tests in this series, has already bowled the most overs for the visitors and ten Doeschate said his workload would need to be carefully managed too. Prasidh Krishna, who played the first two Tests, is the other specialist fast bowler in the squad, apart from the bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur who played the first Test in Leeds.
Anshul Kamboj, 24, is a stocky right-arm fast bowler who can be skiddy as well as hit the deck hard on occasion. He was part of the India A squad that played two unofficial Tests prior to the England Test series and picked up four wickets in the second match in Northampton, including twin strikes in one over in the second innings. Prior to that, Anshul Kamboj also shared an unbroken 149-run stand with Tanush Kotian in the same match, which ended in a draw.
However the scenes at practice looks like Anshul Kamboj is set to make the debut at Manchester, Former Indian cricketer now commentator Aakash Chopra has asked for the clarity on Anshul Kamboj’s inclusion in the test squad.
Aakash Chopra requires clarity on the inclusion of Anshul Kamboj in the Indian setup ahead of 4th Test
The Indian camp is sweating over fitness concerns ahead of the upcoming Manchester Test against England, beginning Wednesday, July 23. Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh are unlikely to be fit in time for the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, while Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the series due to a knee injury. Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj has been added to the visitors’ squad as a cover, and looking at how things are proceeding, the young seamer is in line to make his debut in Manchester.
However, former India opening batter Aakash Chopra has now raised questions over Kamboj’s inclusion in the squad, saying “there is no clarity” whatsoever regarding the Indian team management.
Earlier, before the series against England got underway, the team management asked Harshit Rana to stay back in England as a backup. At that time, many felt Anshul Kamboj was the ideal choice because of his performances in the India A series against England Lions. Harshit Rana was then sent back after the conclusion of the first Test, which England won by five wickets. Now that injuries have surfaced, Harshit Rana is nowhere in the mix as the management have opted to go in with Anshul Kamboj.
Akash Chopra feels that since Harshit Rana was selected earlier, he should have been picked now as well for continuity.
“It’s very interesting. There was a lot of chatter about Anshul Kamboj. He did well for India A as well, but when there was an opportunity earlier, the team management chose Harshit Rana first. Anshul was sent back home, and now we are learning about his name again,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“Harshit Rana is not there. Now you have to wonder, what actually goes on? How do you determine who to keep and who to let go of? If you talk about performances for India A, Anshul’s performance was better, but you kept Harshit Rana looking at continuity,” he added.
The former India opening batter also questioned Gautam Gambhir and the rest of the support staff, asking whether there’s any “clarity” regarding the selection of players for the squad.
“If that was the case, then you should have kept Harshit Rana now as well. But he is not there; Anshul Kamboj is there. No clarity whatsoever,” said Chopra.
“Maybe the management knows, but nobody is telling us anything. This comes as no surprise. Anshul Kamboj was deserving; he is now with the team,” he added.
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is currently led by England as they are 2-1 ahead. Both teams will now square off in the fourth Test with everything to play for.
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