Follow UsIndia were dealt a body blow before the fourth Test at Old Trafford with their best pacer in the series Akash Deep, sustaining an injury, and the visitors responded by flying Anshul Kamboj to England and drafting the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer straight into the starting XI.
Kamboj had done well in the unofficial Tests against England Lions, taking 5 wickets, and he was expected to threaten the England batters in Manchester.
But fans of India were in for a rude awakening as Kamboj had a very ordinary start, conceding 85 off his first 17 overs while taking a solitary wicket. His lines and lengths were inconsistent, but what left many bewildered was his shocking lack of pace, with the 24-year-old bowling in the mid-to-low 120s.
Kamboj’s lack of pace with the ball led to Ravi Shastri on air labelling him a ‘military medium’ bowler, with the former India coach stating that questions will be asked of his selection.
“Kamboj is bowling at 120; questions will be asked of his selection. Everyone will be asking where is Kuldeep or Prasidh,” Shastri said on air on day three.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also claimed that India would have been better off picking Kuldeep or Prasidh.
"Historically, at Old Trafford, you need pace. That's why I would have looked at someone like Prasidh Krishna or maybe the wrist-spinner in Kuldeep Yadav,” Vaughan said.
Kamboj, in the game, averaged 128.7 kph, slower than what Marnus Labuschagne did with the ball in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (131). The first ball he bowled with the second new ball was clocked at 120 kph, and it was a no-ball.