Overview

• India trail 1–2 in the five-match series after a 22-run defeat at Lord’s and must win the fourth Test at Old Trafford to keep their trophy bid alive.
• Former England bowler David Lloyd and ex-wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta have urged Gambhir to field Bumrah in Manchester, noting that his three-Test limit could be adjusted if India level the series.
• India legend Dilip Vengsarkar has criticised the selective rotation policy, insisting that unfit players should be ruled out entirely rather than pick and choose matches.
• Karun Nair has struggled to turn starts into big scores and may be replaced by Sai Sudharsan as India seek more solidity in their middle order.
• In Australia, a 3–0 whitewash of the West Indies was completed with a 176-run win in Kingston, and opener Sam Konstas’s six-innings return of 50 runs at an 8.33 average casts doubt on his Ashes prospects.