The ground staff had a busy afternoon on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) as they put in the hard yards to get the playing surface in shape. However, with spells of rain and no signs of sunshine, it was a challenge to dry the outfield.
Also read:New addition Kamboj likely to be drafted into playing XI
And as India head coach Gautam Gambhir went out to have a close look at the Old Trafford pitch, along with captain Shubman Gill and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, they visibly seemed concerned over a few damp spots.
Gill had a long conversation with the curator, before walking towards the indoor facility for a light training session.
Even though Gill remained optimistic about his team’s chances at the iconic venue, where it has never won a Test match, it will be a challenge for the Indians to adapt to the conditions over the next five days and bounce back in the series.
After a heart-breaking defeat at Lord’s, the build-up to the fourth Test has been far from perfect for India. With Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep ruled out due to injuries, the team management ensured Jasprit Bumrah remains available for the big game, while also calling up young Haryana seamer Anshul Kamboj.
Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will lead the fast bowling unit, and the injury to Akash and Arshdeep has opened up space for a potential debut for Kamboj, who picked up all 10 wickets in an innings during a Ranji Trophy fixture against Kerala last year.
Even though Gill admitted that Kamboj is very close to donning the India cap, a decision on whether to play him or bring Prasidh Krishna back will be made on the morning of the game.
As the pitch is expected to be seam-friendly, it would be interesting to see whether the team management opts for Shardul Thakur over Washington Sundar, while Ravindra Jadeja will be an automatic choice as the lead spinner.
Even though the captain backed Karun Nair, who has had a string of poor scores, there is a possibility of B. Sai Sudharsan replacing him at No. 3.
Barring the collapse in the second innings at Lord’s, India’s batting has looked steady in the series. Rishabh Pant’s availability is welcome news for the tourists.
England, on the other hand, has made just one change to its playing eleven, with left-arm spinner Liam Dawson returning to Test cricket after an eight-year gap.
Replacing the injured Shoaib Bashir, Dawson comes on the back of a successful county season with Hampshire. While he could make an impact with the ball, Dawson is also a batter of repute, having amassed more than 10,000 First-Class runs.
Enjoying a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, England will bank on its fast bowling battery, comprising Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and captain Ben Stokes, to make the most of the conditions.
Despite forecasts of rain on the first couple of days, both teams will be hoping to put their best foot forward.
The teams:
England (XI): Ben Stokes (Capt.), Jamie Smith (wk), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.
India (from): Shubman Gill (Capt.), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, K.L. Rahul, B. Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj and Kuldeep Yadav.
Match starts at 3.30 p.m. IST.
Published – July 22, 2025 10:44 pm IST
