India’s final showdown against England at The Oval in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy could see a new face don the whites—Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm pacer, who has made a name for himself in white-ball cricket, might finally get his long-awaited Test debut as India looks to level the five-match series, currently trailing 1-2.
With Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested to manage his workload and questions surrounding Mohammed Siraj’s fatigue, the team management is seriously considering refreshing the pace attack. Arshdeep Singh was initially being considered for the fourth Test in Manchester, but a thumb injury during a practice session in Beckenham derailed those plans.
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Now fully fit and having completed a full-intensity spell during India’s optional net session, Arshdeep is back in contention and raring to go. Reports suggest that the selectors had earmarked him for a debut in either of the final two matches, and the Oval now seems like the perfect stage.
#INDvsENG | Arshdeep Singh is back and fully fit ahead of the Oval Test! 💪
Will the left-arm quick secure a spot in the 🇮🇳 playing XI for the series finale vs England?
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/9veBW5nW5Q pic.twitter.com/DUTPdgXlgL
— TOI Sports (@toisports) July 29, 2025
Having starred in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign with 17 wickets—the joint-most in the tournament—Arshdeep demonstrated nerves of steel, especially with his match-defining 19th over in the final. Despite his white-ball accolades, the 25-year-old has been vocal about his desire to play Test cricket, and his childhood coach Jaswant Rai believes the time is right.
Under the guidance of bowling coach Morne Morkel, Arshdeep has been focusing on developing his red-ball craft. If picked, he could slot in alongside Akash Deep and Siraj, bringing variety and left-arm angle to the pace attack.
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Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav might return in place of Shardul Thakur to strengthen the spin department. With a high-stakes decider on the horizon, Arshdeep’s debut could add fresh energy to India’s bowling unit and tilt the momentum in their favour.
India’s predicted XI for the fifth Test against England:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
