If you had asked anyone a few weeks ago who might be India’s surprise package in the Manchester Test, few would’ve guessed Anshul Kamboj. The young pacer from Haryana had quietly returned home after a solid outing with India A in England, only to be recalled under urgent circumstances. With Harshit Rana initially preferred as injury cover, Kamboj’s name was briefly out of the spotlight — until India’s injury crisis blew wide open after the Lord’s Test.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out of the series. Arshdeep Singh injured his bowling hand. And then came the blow that Akash Deep — India’s standout seamer with 11 wickets in two Tests — would miss the fourth Test due to a groin strain. With the bench strength shrinking, Kamboj was flown back in, and now, as skipper Shubman Gill revealed, he is on the brink of a Test debut.
“It will be a toss-up between him and Prasidh,” Shubman Gill said, confirming Kamboj is very much in contention. What stands out in Gill’s statement is his emphasis on Kamboj knowing “exactly what we want.” This trait has not gone unnoticed.
ALSO READ: Shubman Gill Confirms Akash Deep Ruled Out, Anshul Kamboj In Line For Debut
R Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, praised Kamboj’s clarity and understanding of match plans — even comparing his mental approach to the likes of Zaheer Khan and Jasprit Bumrah. “He doesn’t just want to express himself. He knows how to execute a plan — that’s rare,” Ashwin said.
That cricketing intelligence has been a hallmark of Anshul’s domestic rise. His 10-wicket match haul against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy and five wickets in four innings for India A in England highlighted not only his discipline but also his ability to extract movement off the pitch.
#TeamIndia’s newest addition, #AnshulKamboj, opens up about his inspiring journey to the top! 👏🏻
Should the young seamer get his chance in the 4th Test vs England? 👀#ENGvIND | 4th Test starts WED, 23rd JULY, 2:30 PM | Streaming on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/yyTjMgi2fZ
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 21, 2025
His coach, Satish Rana, couldn’t speak more highly of him. “He’s a McGrath fan — watches his spells, learns from him. And he got to meet him at the NCA. That changed everything for him,” Rana revealed. McGrath’s trademark precision, blended with Anshul’s raw aggression, makes for a potent mix. “He has McGrath’s calmness but even more aggression in his bowling,” added Rana.
That fire is balanced by an inner calm, thanks to advice from MS Dhoni himself. “Dhoni told him to stay composed and never lose his cool. He’s taken that to heart,” said Rana.
WATCH – Andre Russell Bids Farewell With Blazing Knock, Receives Guard of Honor from West Indies and Australia
With Prasidh Krishna out of form, experts like Sanjay Manjrekar believe Anshul’s consistent line-and-length style is better suited for Manchester’s overcast conditions, where pace and bounce could be key. “It’s a good time to try someone like Anshul,” Manjrekar noted.
So while Anshul Kamboj might have entered the Test reckoning by chance, everything about his preparation suggests he belongs. The Indian team isn’t looking for hype — they’re looking for someone who listens, learns, and delivers. And in Anshul, they just might have found the perfect answer.
