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Akash Deep Out, Pant To Keep As Gill Confirms Major Changes In India XI For Manchester Test

Debashis Sarangi

Akash Deep and Rishabh Pant [Source: AP]Akash Deep and Rishabh Pant [Source: AP]

In a significant development, Indian captain Shubman Gill has provided key updates on the playing XI for the upcoming Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. The stylish batter confirmed Akash Deep's unavailability, while also revealing Rishabh Pant would continue to keep wickets amid injury concerns. 

Gill Issues Fitness Updates On Indian Players

In the pre-match press conference, Indian skipper Shubman Gill revealed that fast bowler Akash Deep wouldn't participate in the penultimate Test against England. The right-arm pacer has yet to recover from a groin injury that he sustained during the third Test at Lord's. 

Gill clearly stated that Akash Deep would be unavailable for the Manchester clash, saying the visitors would pick one between Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna for the third seamer's role. 

"Akash Deep is unavailable, so is Arshdeep but we have good players in the team to pick twenty wickets. It is not ideal to have different bowlers but I was prepared. Anshul Kamboj is very close to making debut. We will see between Prasidh and Anshul tomorrow," Gill was quoted as saying by TOI journalist Sahil Malhotra.

Meanwhile, the Punjab cricketer also disclosed that Rishabh Pant would keep the wickets in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. For the unversed, Pant sustained a finger injury that forced India to replace him with Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps. 

Although he batted with an injured finger, the swashbuckling southpaw couldn't keep the wickets for a majority of the game. However, Gill's assurance comes as a massive relief for the Indian fans who feared that the injury would sideline the Delhi batter from the series. 

India's potential combination for 4th Test vs England

If we go by Gill's statements, India's playing XI could look something like this: 

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj/Prasidh Krishna