Anshu malik

Nitish Kumar Reddy: After three Tests against England, India’s fast-bowling resources had come under strain ahead of the game at Old Trafford, Manchester. Akash Deep was ruled out due to a groin niggle picked at Lord’s, while seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s left knee ligament injury sent him back home.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was in contention for a Test debut in Manchester, suffered a hand injury during a net session in Beckenham and wasn’t ready in time to play at The Oval, while Anshul Kamboj had an underwhelming debut in Manchester.

With the Duleep Trophy kicking off the Indian domestic cricket season on Thursday, the search for India’s next set of reliable red-ball fast bowlers will be a key narrative this year.