ENG vs IND 2025: Shoaib Bashir’s fitness in doubt after finger injury at Lord’s

England will be keeping a close eye on off-spinner Shoaib Bashir’s fitness after he injured the little finger on his left hand on Day 3 of the Lord’s Test against India.

The incident occurred as Bashir was bowling to Ravindra Jadeja, who returned a booming low shot right at him. Although it was technically a caught-and-bowled opportunity, the ball hit Bashir squarely in the hand. He appeared to have suffered a dislocation and promptly went to the dressing room for medical assistance. Joe Root was compelled to finish the over.

Initially, the England camp hoped that Bashir would return to bowl in the evening session. However, he remained off the pitch and sat with the substitute fielders. Bashir was observed bowling on a practice strip with extensive strapping on his fourth and fifth fingers prior to Day 4, but his availability to bat is doubtful.

“Shoaib Bashir’s left little finger injury is being evaluated, and he is scheduled to bowl in the fourth innings of the Test.

He will decide whether or not to bat in the third innings later. His participation in the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford will be evaluated at the conclusion of the game,” said an England statement on the fourth day of play.

Bashir has nine wickets in the series thus far, with an average of 59.44, including the removal of KL Rahul on Day 3 at Lord’s in the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. If he is ruled out of the second Test in Manchester, England’s only spin alternatives are Liam Dawson, Jack Leach, and Rehan Ahmed. England head coach Brendon McCullum has stated that Jacob Bethell is considered a backup hitter rather than a potential No. 8 option.

The five-match Test series is currently tied at 1-1, with England winning the first Test at Headingley and India making an emphatic comeback at Edgbaston.