Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed in the Lord’s Test last week, sustained a knee injury during a gym session on July 20. Reports indicate ligament damage, which has unfortunately ruled him out of contention.

Adding to the bowling woes, Arshdeep Singh, who was on the cusp of his Test debut, has suffered an injury to his bowling arm, making him unavailable for the crucial match.

These injuries exacerbate India’s existing concerns regarding player workload. Fast bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has already featured in two Tests in the series, despite an initial plan to limit his participation to three. Similarly, Mohammed Siraj is reportedly facing burnout after an extensive period of playing red-ball cricket since 2024.

The sudden spate of injuries and growing workload management issues mean Team India may be forced to implement substantial changes to their playing XI for the pivotal encounter.