Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj has been called up as injury cover for Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep in the India squad ahead of the fourth Test against England. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin showered praise on the young fast bowler and drew parallels with Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan.

The Shubman Gill-led team is trailing 2-1 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with just two matches left, and injuries have impacted their pace attack. Akash Deep is struggling with a groin issue, Arshdeep Singh has been ruled out, and Nitish Reddy is also unavailable for the remainder of the series.

Jasprit Bumrah’s return strengthens the squad ahead of the fourth Test, but there’s still uncertainty over the third seamer’s spot, with Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna under consideration.

It’s a Serious Bowling Attack – Ravichandran Ashwin Backs Anshul Kamboj for Test Debut

Ravichandran Ashwin, who had worked with Anshul Kamboj at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, said that the young pacer, along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, would make a formidable bowling attack.

“With Bumrah and Siraj there, if you are bringing in Anshul Kamboj into the playing XI, I’m telling you, it’s a serious bowling attack,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat.

“People can say that Anshul Kamboj will be playing his first Test. But he was there with India A. He has been in cracking form in first-class cricket. He averaged around 13 last season and even bagged 10 wickets in an innings. He had a kick-ass Duleep Trophy,” he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin Draws Parallels Between Anshul Kamboj, Zaheer Khan, and Bumrah

Ravichandran Ashwin said that Anshul Kamboj has a sharp cricketing mind and can execute plans effectively during matches. He noted that many bowlers, even with years of international experience, often fail to use tactical strategies. Ashwin compared Kamboj to Zaheer Khan and Jasprit Bumrah.

“The most appreciable thing about Anshul Kamboj is that he understands the plan. I have seen so many bowlers who, even after playing 30–40 Test matches, still don’t understand the plan. If you ask them about the plan, they just say they want to express themselves and enjoy the game,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.

“Because they don’t understand the plan. That is one type of bowling. The other is bowling according to the plan. Anshul Kamboj understands the plan and also knows how to execute it in the middle.

“I have seen that. It’s not a trait a lot of fast bowlers have. Zaheer Khan was one of them—he was amazing. Jassi is another one. He understands the plan, makes plans, and executes them to perfection. Anshul Kamboj belongs to that variety.”

Anshul Kamboj’s Impressive Performances in First-Class Cricket

Anshul Kamboj is a strong contender for a spot in India’s playing XI for the fourth Test, following injuries to key pacers Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh. The Haryana fast bowler was added to the squad as injury cover.

Kamboj played for India A against the England Lions ahead of the main series. He took one wicket and scored 23 runs in the first unofficial Test, but made a bigger impact in the second match with four wickets across both innings and an unbeaten 51 in the second innings.

The 24-year-old has also made a mark in domestic cricket, having taken 79 wickets in 24 first-class matches at an average of 22.88, including two five-wicket hauls. During the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, he became only the third player in the tournament’s history to take all 10 wickets in a single innings.

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