India Backs CSK Star Over Shami: A Risky Gamble?

India’s tour of England has been a rollercoaster. Injuries are piling up, selections are being questioned and now a new face is being flown in as cover.

Haryana fast bowler Anshul Kamboj is the latest addition to the Test squad after Arshdeep Singh was ruled out due to injury.

But did India wait too long to use Arshdeep? Is this pace strategy turning into a gamble?

Arshdeep Singh who was sitting on the bench for the first three Tests has now been ruled out of the fourth.

The left-arm pacer suffered a deep cut on his bowling hand during practice. He was trying to stop a shot from Sai Sudharsan and ended up with stitches. He’ll be out for at least ten days.

This is a big blow at a crucial time when Arshdeep was likely to make his debut and when India really needed him.

What hurts more for fans is the missed opportunity. While Arshdeep sat on the sidelines, Prasidh Krishna got two games and failed to impress. He was out of control and didn’t trouble the English batsmen much.

On the other hand Arshdeep was seen as a more reliable red ball option especially in conditions like England where swing matters. Yet he wasn’t given a single game.

And now when the opportunity has finally arrived he’s out due to injury. With Arshdeep out and Akash Deep nursing a groin strain the selectors have added 24 year old Anshul Kamboj to the squad.

He was part of the India A team recently and picked up 5 wickets in 2 games. In domestic cricket he has 79 wickets in 24 first class games for Haryana.

Kamboj has the pace and discipline but this is a big stage and the timing couldn’t be more sudden.

India’s injury woes don’t stop there. Akash Deep who was playing the last Test walked off mid game holding his waist.

Though he came back on the field he didn’t bowl again that day. He didn’t bowl in the latest practice session either.

Even Rishabh Pant is carrying a finger injury. He was hit during Day 1 of the Lord’s Test while trying to collect a Bumrah delivery.

He didn’t keep wickets for the rest of the match and his condition is still being monitored.India’s decision to pick Anshul Kamboj over experienced names like Mohammed Shami or to delay Arshdeep’s debut is now being questioned.

The young pacers haven’t delivered and the injuries have made it worse. Shami wasn’t fully fit at the start of the series but with each game his absence is felt more and more.

With the fourth Test starting July 23 in Manchester India are in a tough spot. The bowling unit is stretched, key players are injured and the ones they backed early on haven’t fired.

If India fail to level the series, the team management might have to answer why a fit Arshdeep was ignored when he was needed most and why an experienced name like Shami wasn’t recalled in time.

This gamble with the bowling attack might just cost them the series.