After the heartbreak at Lord’s, the Indian cricket team enjoyed a much-needed breather at the Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham, where they held their only practice session before the upcoming fourth Test in Manchester.
The players, visibly tired after a nearly hour-long journey from London, looked relieved as they stepped off the team bus into the calm surroundings of the training facility. The relaxed environment was reflected in their body language — a sharp contrast to the usually high-pressure settings they’re accustomed to.
Inside the dressing room, a mixed playlist of Hanuman Chalisa, English pop, and Punjabi chartbusters added to the laid-back atmosphere and helped lift the team’s spirits.
Injury Updates & Light Training
Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah took part only in the warm-up and gym sessions. Pant is currently nursing a finger injury but is expected to be fit in time for the Manchester Test. Bumrah, along with Mohammed Siraj, skipped bowling duties as part of workload management. It remains unclear whether either of them will be rested for the next match.
Except for KL Rahul, who stayed back in London, the entire squad made the trip to Beckenham.
Arshdeep Singh Suffers Minor Injury
Young pacer Arshdeep Singh, yet to feature in the series, suffered a minor injury to his bowling hand while attempting to stop a powerful shot from Sai Sudharsan during nets. After the incident, Shubman Gill informed batting coach Sitanshu Kotak that Arshdeep might not be fit to bat.
He was later spotted with a bandage wrapped around his left hand.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate provided an update:
“He tried to stop a ball hit back by Sai and suffered a cut on his hand. The medical team has taken him to a doctor to assess whether he needs stitches or not. That will play a part in our planning over the next few days.”
As the series hangs in the balance, India’s team management will be keeping a close eye on player fitness ahead of the Manchester showdown.
