Karun Nair gets lifeline as 23-year-old replaces Nitish Kumar Reddy, pacers for Manchester Test revealed

The 33-year-old India National Cricket Team batsman Karun Nair seems to have gotten a lifeline and is likely to feature in the playing XI for the fourth Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

The five-match series between India and England is currently led by the hosts 2-1, and the fourth Test will be hosted by Old Trafford in Manchester from July 23.

India's pace attack for the Manchester Test

On Monday, July 21, all the India National Cricket Team players and coaches arrived at Old Trafford in Manchester for the official practice session.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

The first look of the Manchester pitch also came out ahead of the fourth game, and it looked like a damp surface.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen inspecting the pitch for quite some time along with other coaches, as it will determine the combination that the visitors will field in the all-important match.

#INDvsENG | 🇮🇳 Gautam Gambhir takes a close look at the damp pitch in Manchester ahead of the 4th Test 🏏 Crucial conditions call for big decisions — India’s strategy in focus!

FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/zjh4mzNKTD pic.twitter.com/nZXNxypqQi

— TOI Sports (@toisports) July 21, 2025

One of the biggest questions heading into the next Test match is regarding the availability of the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who entered the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a pre-determined plan to play three out of five Test matches.

He has already played two matches and will only feature in one of the last two games. Reportedly, Jasprit Bumrah will be playing the Manchester Test with the series on the line.

Meanwhile, a TOI journalist hinted that Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, who will effectively replace spinner Washington Sundar, and Anshul Kamboj, who will make his debut, will be the other three seamers in the India playing XI.

Notably, Akash Deep is suffering from a groin and back issue, while Arshdeep Singh has been ruled out of the fourth Test due to a thumb injury.

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj 👀

— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) July 21, 2025

Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan to play together

India have lost the young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy for the rest of the series as he suffered a knee injury in the gym and has been sent back home. His injury has opened the doors for both Karun Nair and 23-year-old Sai Sudharsan to play together in the India XI.

A Sportstar journalist took to X to share glimpses of India's training session where Rishabh Pant was seen with gloves, and the slip-cordon comprised of Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Sai Sudharsan.

Reacting to this, a PTI reporter stated that both Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair are expected to be a part of India's playing XI in the Manchester Test.

So Pant will be keeping wickets and both Sai and Nair expected to be in the playing XI#INDvENG https://t.co/DkmS7k5w1B

— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) July 21, 2025

Karun Nair has been under the scanner for his poor performances as he has scored just 0, 20, 31, 26, 40, and 14 across six innings.

Also, Sai Sudharsan was dropped just after his debut game, where he scored 0 and 30. He will effectively replace Nitish Kumar Reddy in the team.

🚨Rishabh Pant keeping the wickets! Karun, KL, Shubman and Sai in the slip cordon.

Yashasvi joined the slip cordon later. @gargiraut15 reports pic.twitter.com/bnZXq1h7d3

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) July 21, 2025

India's Reported Playing XI For Manchester Test

Team: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj

In - Sai Sudharsan, Shardul Thakur, Anshul Kamboj

Out - Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep

Also Read: Aakash Chopra opposes Ravi Shastri, demands ‘half-fit’ Rishabh Pant’s selection for Manchester Test

We are playing to win this series - Ex-India star

Former India pacer Siddharth Kaul, who is set to play for the India Champions team in the ongoing World Championship of Legends, hailed Test skipper Shubman Gill. He also backed India to win the Test series against England.

"I feel very proud. I remember when we used to play together, his jokes, his fun side, and even then, the maturity he showed in his batting. There were matches he won for Punjab that looked impossible. That kind of temperament doesn't go unnoticed," he said, as quoted by ANI.

"Definitely, we will come back. I don't believe that we are playing for a comeback. We are playing to win this series."