India veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane urged the Shubman Gill-led side to include spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the team's playing XI for the fourth Test match against England, which will take place from 23 to 27 July at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. India are currently training 2-1 after defeating India by 22 runs in the third Test at Lord's Stadium in London.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has confirmed that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will play the fourth Test match against England.
“Depending on the condition of the wicket, I feel Kuldeep should play. If the wicket is similar to the last three Test matches, Kuldeep should play because you need guys who can get you those wickets. Our batting unit is doing really well. Even if you score 25-30 runs less, that’s okay. But you need people who can get you those wickets. You don’t want to depend on your leading fast bowlers every time.” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
India featured with pacer Akashdeep and when Jasprit Bumrah missed the second Test match at Edgbaston. After India's win in the second Test, the management dropped Prasidh Krishnma and added Bumrah in the XI again. The 31-year-old pacer has so far taken 12 wickets in the series with an average of 21.00.
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Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is also a part of the Shubman Gill-led side for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, and he recently suffered a cut on his hand during a training session earlier this week. Rahane counts Arshdeep as somebody who should replace Bumrah in case he does not play in Manchester.
“I think so, yes. If Bumrah is not playing, Arshdeep is the guy. Because in England, you need a left-arm seamer who can swing the ball both ways, and also, with a different angle, he can create that rough for the spinners. So, if Bumrah doesn’t play, Arshdeep should play the next one,” Rahane said.
The Indian pacer was rushed to the doctor's post the cut, and Rahane believes that Arshdeep’s condition will be important in the team’s planning in the next few days before the Manchester Test.
“He took a ball while he was bowling there. So he hit a ball, and he tried to stop it and it’s just a cut. So we have to see how bad the cut is. Obviously, the medical team have taken him off to see a doctor and obviously, if he needs stitches or does he not, that will be important to our planning for the next few days,” Rahane said.