Persistent heavy rain threw India’s preparations for the crucial fourth Test against England into disarray as their first training session in Manchester was forced entirely indoors. The Old Trafford nets, which started as optional, saw several key players—including captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah—skip practice altogether. The rest of the squad reported to the ground amid downpours and gloomy skies, leaving the press and onlookers with no view of the team’s indoor activities.Manchester’s famously unpredictable weather is proving a real challenge. Over the past three days, the city has swung from brief sunshine to steady rain. The forecast for the Test’s opening day, July 23, predicts a 60% chance of morning showers and temperatures dropping to 17°C, raising concerns about start-time delays and tricky playing conditions.The uncooperative weather is just one of several headaches for the Indian camp. Fresh injury concerns have emerged in the fast-bowling ranks. Arshdeep Singh has a hand injury, and Akash Deep, who starred at Edgbaston, is now a doubtful starter with an ongoing back problem.
In response, Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj has been called up and could be on the cusp of a Test debut. Jasprit Bumrah, however, is expected to be fit and ready despite skipping the optional nets, providing a much-needed silver lining.
Heavy rain in Manchester
With the rain narrowing preparation windows, tough calls loom. The management is considering dynamic changes and a possible reshuffle at number three in the batting order, assessing Karun Nair’s place, and debating whether to bring back Sai Sudarshan.Rishabh Pant’s fitness is a topic of discussion, with the team weighing the option of deploying him solely as a batsman, perhaps handing wicketkeeping gloves to KL Rahul or giving Dhruv Jurel his chance.Selection dilemmas and weather uncertainty now dominate the narrative. As both teams chase the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, all eyes remain on the Old Trafford skies, knowing they could play as decisive a part in the Test outcome as any player on the field.
