Shubman Gill shares crucial injury update on Indian pacer ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 4th Test

Shubman Gill has confirmed that Team India pacer Akash Deep will miss the upcoming fourth Test against England. The match is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 23, at Old Trafford in Manchester. Speaking during a press conference on the eve of the Test, the Indian skipper provided a significant fitness update that could impact the team’s bowling strategy.

Gill revealed that Akash Deep has been ruled out due to a groin niggle he sustained during the third Test. The injury had already made his availability doubtful, and now it has been officially confirmed that the pacer will not feature. This adds to India's injury woes, as Nitish Kumar Reddy has already been ruled out for the remainder of the series.

“It’s never easy when there are a few injuries in the squad. Nitish Kumar Reddy is going to miss out on the series. Akash Deep is unavailable for the next match, and so is Arshdeep, but we have enough good players on the team to pick up twenty wickets. That has been the most challenging aspect of the series. It is not ideal to have different bowlers, but I was prepared,” Gill was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Anshul Kamboj likely to debut as injuries pile up

Akash Deep had a standout performance in the second Test at Birmingham, where he took ten wickets. However, his impact waned in the third Test at Lord’s, where he went wicketless in the first innings and picked up just one in the second. With the squad facing multiple injuries, Anshul Kamboj, who was added recently, could be in line to make his Test debut in Manchester.

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Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has been in sublime touch with the bat throughout the series. The 25-year-old has already amassed 607 runs in three matches at an average of 101.16, including three centuries and a double ton. Despite a rare failure at Lord’s, where he scored 16 and 6 in the two innings, Gill will look to bounce back and lead India in a must-win Test to level the series 2-2.