Haryana seamer Kamboj added to India squad as injury cover ahead of crucial Manchester Test

Haryana fast bowler Anshul Kamboj has been added to India’s Test squad for the ongoing tour of England after left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh sustained a deep cut on his bowling hand during a training session.

The 24-year-old Kamboj, who has 79 wickets in 24 first class games, was part of the India A side, which played two three-day games last month. He took five wickets in the two games.

“India A seamer, #AnushulKamboj has been added to the Indian squad as a cover ahead of the fourth Test against England at Manchester!” the official broadcasters of the tour, Star Sports, posted on X.

Kamboj’s family members and his coach are proud of the youngster’s addition to India’s Test squad in England.

It was a moment of celebration for Anshul’s family and his relatives to hear the news of his addition to the Indian side in England.

Anshul’s brother, Sanyam Kamboj, described the emotion that swept through their home upon hearing the news. “We are very happy, and the entire family is happy for him. I don’t have words to express my happiness for his selection in the Indian team. He used to practice a lot in the academy and only used to go home to sleep,” he told IANS on Sunday.

The sacrifices made by Anshul and his family stand as a testament to the single-minded focus that has fueled his ascent through the ranks of Indian cricket. Practising for countless hours at the local academy and dedicating himself completely to the game, Anshul has inspired those around him with his discipline and commitment.

His coach, Satish Rana, who has been a guiding force in Anshul’s formative years, was equally elated and proud.

“It is a proud moment for us. I still remember his childhood days when we pledged to make him a good player and a better human. Anshul is following that and focusing on cricket. Our target is achieved today,” Rana reflected, looking back on the years of hard work, mentorship, and responsible nurturing that have come to fruition with this selection.

The 24-year-old Anshul is a stocky right-arm fast bowler known for his ability to generate both skiddy pace and sharp bounce when needed. He was part of the India A squad that featured in two unofficial Tests ahead of the England Test series.

Kamboj rose to prominence after delivering a historic performance in the Ranji Trophy last year, claiming all 10 wickets in a single innings against Kerala at Lahli.

With that remarkable feat, he became only the third bowler in Ranji Trophy history to achieve the rare milestone, joining the elite company of Bengal’s Premangsu Chatterjee (1956-57) and Rajasthan’s Pradeep Somasundaram (1985-86).

In total, Kamboj finished the previous Ranji season with 34 wickets from six matches, underlining his impact in India’s premier red-ball competition.

England to host next three WTC finals: England will stage the next three World Test Championship (WTC) finals after the successful hosting of the first three showpiece matches, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Sunday.

The most recent final took place last month, when South Africa were crowned champions for the first time after defeating holders Australia at Lord’s.

Nearly 110,000 people went through the gates of the London ground over the course of a Test lasting four days.

India were reportedly keen to host the next final in two years’ time but England have been awarded the finals of the 2027, 2029 and 2031 editions.

At its annual conference in Singapore, the ICC noted England’s “successful track record in hosting recent finals”, even though Ben Stokes’s side are yet to reach the one-off showpiece.

“We are absolutely delighted that England and Wales has been chosen to host the next three ICC World Test Championship finals,” said England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould.

“It’s a testament to the passion that fans in this country have for this treasured format of the game and the willingness of supporters from around the world to travel here for these games.”

Agencies