IND vs ENG 4th Test, Day 1 LIVE: Anshul Kamboj on Brink of India Debut in Crucial Manchester Clash

Old Trafford, Manchester – The stage is set for a pivotal encounter as India, trailing 2-1 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, face England in the 4th Test at Old Trafford. With the series on the line and injuries plaguing the Indian camp, all eyes are on whether Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj will make his highly anticipated Test debut today. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM IST (10:00 GMT).

Shubman Gill's men enter this crucial fixture with significant challenges. Following a thrilling victory at Lord's, Ben Stokes' England side carries immense confidence, eyeing an unassailable series lead in Manchester, a venue where India has historically struggled to win. India's ignominious collapse and defeat in the previous Test have forced them to make tough selection decisions amid a growing injury list.

The arrival of Anshul Kamboj as an SOS call suggests he is on the cusp of earning his maiden Test cap. His potential inclusion would inject fresh pace into the Indian attack at Old Trafford, a ground where India has played only once in the 21st century (back in 2014). Additionally, young southpaw Sai Sudharsan is slated to replace Karun Nair at No. 3, indicating a significant shake-up in India's batting lineup. With muggy weather predicted in Manchester, both teams will need to adapt quickly to the conditions.

England Announce Playing XI, Liam Dawson Ends Long Wait

England has confirmed their playing XI for the 4th Test, with one notable change. Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Liam Dawson returns to the Test side after an eight-year hiatus, replacing the injured Shoaib Bashir. Dawson, whose Test career started with an impactful unbeaten 66 on debut in 2016, will be eager to make his mark in his fourth Test match.

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Liam Dawson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.

Squads and Series Context

England Squad: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell.

India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Anshul Kamboj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel.

With England leading 2-1, the pressure is firmly on India to level the series before the final Test. While India has individually excelled in the series so far, with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant leading the run-scorers and the pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Akash Deep topping the wicket charts, collective victory remains elusive. Coach Gautam Gambhir will be hoping his team can convert individual brilliance into a much-needed series-squaring win.

Stay tuned for all the live updates from Day 1 of the India vs England 4th Test in Manchester.