Aakash Chopra questions the lack of clarity over Anshul Kamboj’s inclusion for the Manchester Test

The fourth Test between India and England is set to begin today, July 23, in Manchester, with the visitors trailing 1-2 in the five-match series. A win is a must for India to keep the series alive, but they head into the crucial clash with multiple injury setbacks.

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Pacer Akash Deep is likely to miss the game due to a groin niggle. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the series with a knee injury, and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh will also miss the Manchester Test due to a thumb injury. In response, the Indian team has brought in Anshul Kamboj as cover.

However, former India opener Aakash Chopra has raised questions over the selection process, calling out a lack of clarity in the team’s decision regarding Kamboj.

Despite Kamboj performing well for India A in two unofficial Tests against England—where he took five wickets—he was overlooked earlier, with Harshit Rana preferred instead. Rana managed just one wicket but was brought into the squad for the Leeds Test, which India lost. Following the defeat, Rana was released from the squad, and now Kamboj has been called up ahead of the fourth Test.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: "It's very interesting. There was a lot of chatter around Anshul Kamboj, having done well for India A. When an opportunity arose for someone to join the team, the management chose Harshit Rana. Anshul Kamboj was sent back home. And now Kamboj's name is cropping up again while Rana is not there.”

He added: "Then you start to wonder, 'What actually goes on?' How do you decide and determine who to keep and who to let go of? As far as India A performances go, Kamboj's was better. But if you kept Harshit Rana based on continuity (earlier), then you should have kept Rana instead of Kamboj (again).”

"But now Rana isn't there and Kamboj is. So there is no clarity whatsoever. Maybe they might have the clarity, but nobody is telling us anything. This comes as a bit of a... not as a surprise, but it felt like Kamboj was anyway deserving (of a spot). So now he is going to be with the team. The worrying thing is that several pacers have been ruled out," Chopra concluded.

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