ENG vs IND: One senior Indian player reluctant to play the Manchester Test

India’s second physio Yogesh Parmar, testing positive for COVID-19, had put Team India’s Manchester Test against England under the clouds. Thereafter, practice sessions were cancelled and the players underwent a fresh round of testing. The players and rest of the support staff returned negative test results, meaning that chances for the fifth and final Test taking place increased.

But despite the positive pieces of news, it’s been learned that one of the senior members of the Indian team has shown reluctance in playing the last Test, starting September 10 at the Old Trafford. Going by reports, Tom Harrison, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, is in talks with the cricketer, trying to address his concerns before the all-important Test match.

Earlier, head coach Ravi Shastri’s RT-PCR tests came positive after which bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Shridhar were sent into isolation. Batting coach Vikram Rathour is the only senior support staff member with the Indian team going into the Manchester Test. Nitin Patel, India’s other physio, was also reported to be in isolation after close contacts with Shastri.

Team India set for a couple of changes in Manchester Test

Going into the final Test, India are most likely to make a couple of changes to their playing eleven, News18 reported. Jasprit Bumrah’ currently India’s leading wicket-taker in the series, could make way for Mohammed Shami, who missed the Oval Test due to niggle. Bumrah is also the second-highest wicket-taker of the series with 18 scalps after fast bowler Ollie Robinson.

Moreover, Bumrah has been dominated as one of the three players for the ICC ‘Player of the Month’ award for August 2021 along with Brits’ Test skipper Joe Root and Pakistan speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi. Ravi Ashwin, who missed the first four Tests of the series, could also make his way into the eleven. Ravindra Jadeja, who’s suffering from a leg strain, is most likely to sit out.

India have already taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series with a 157-run win at the Kennington Oval in London. Virat Kohli and Co made a comeback after the defeat in the third Test by an innings and 76 runs.