England's Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test series against India after fracturing his left little finger during the third Test at Lord's. The injury, sustained on Day 3 while attempting a caught and bowled chance off Ravindra Jadeja, will require surgery, sidelining the young spinner for the crucial remaining matches.

Bashir's absence is a significant blow to England, especially after his match-winning performance at Lord's, where he took the final wicket of Mohammed Siraj to seal a 22-run victory. Despite the injury limiting his role in the match, he returned to bowl in the second innings and delivered the decisive blow, sparking celebrations among his teammates. The victory gave England a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

The 21-year-old Bashir has had an eventful start to his international career. Earlier this year, he faced visa complications ahead of the Test series in India. As a British Muslim of Pakistani heritage, he was the only member of the touring party to experience a significant delay in obtaining a visa. This issue forced him to return to London to resolve the matter, causing him to miss the first Test. Captain Ben Stokes expressed his frustration, highlighting the unfortunate nature of the situation for a young player on his first international tour. Eventually, Bashir received his visa and joined the team, making his Test debut. Across 5 matches he has played in the series against India, Bashir has taken 10 wickets at an average of 54.1.

The injury occurred when a powerful drive from Jadeja struck Bashir's non-bowling hand. Despite the pain, he displayed remarkable courage by returning to bowl on the final day. His final act was dismissing Siraj, with the ball ricocheting off the bat and onto the stumps.

With Bashir sidelined, England's selectors face a headache in choosing a replacement spinner for the fourth Test at Old Trafford. The experienced Jack Leach could be recalled, while other options include Liam Dawson and young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.

Bashir's absence is a setback for England, but his heroics at Lord's will be remembered. His courage to bowl through the pain and secure the victory exemplifies his potential as a valuable asset to the team. The fourth Test begins on July 23, and England will aim to maintain their lead in the series despite this setback.