Nitish Kumar Reddy is likely to miss the remainder of India's tour of England due to a knee injury. The all-rounder sustained the injury during a gym session on Sunday, with scans confirming ligament damage. This is a significant blow to the Indian team, as Reddy had quickly cemented his place in the playing XI with impressive performances in the second and third Tests.
Reddy's ability to deliver crucial spells with the ball and contribute valuable runs in the lower batting order made him a vital part of the combination crafted by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill. In the two Tests he played, he scored 45 runs, with a best of 30 in the first innings at Lord's. He also took two wickets, dismissing Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in the same over.
His absence leaves a significant void in the Indian lineup, particularly in English conditions where a seam-bowling all-rounder is a rare and valuable asset. It's understood that Reddy traveled with the team to Manchester but didn't take part in the optional training session at Old Trafford. The first training session of the week was optional, and several key players, including Reddy, did not participate.
India's injury concerns continue to deepen, with Reddy becoming the latest in a growing list of sidelined players. Pacer Akash Deep is also likely to miss the fourth Test due to a back injury. Arshdeep Singh's availability for the Manchester Test remains uncertain as he is nursing an injury as well. Anshul Kamboj has been added to India's Test squad for the ongoing tour of England after Arshdeep Singh sustained a deep cut on his bowling hand during a training session. Jasprit Bumrah is also limited to playing only three of the five Tests in the series due to workload management issues.
With England leading the series 2-1, the upcoming Test in Manchester is a must-win one for India. If Nitish Kumar Reddy is indeed ruled out of the remaining two Test matches on the England tour, then the Indian team management might have to play an extra bowler in place of him. Shardul Thakur could also return to the Playing XI.
