The third Test is set to begin on February 15 in Rajkot, followed by the fourth Test in Ranchi on February 23. England’s Jack Leach will no longer participate in the Test series against India due to a knee injury sustained during the first Test in Hyderabad. Despite missing the second Test, England initially hesitated to rule him out. However, the ECB confirmed his unavailability after assessing his condition during the break in Abu Dhabi. Leach will work with the England and Somerset medical teams for his rehabilitation, and no replacement will be called up.
England already has four spinners in their squad, including part-timer Joe Root. Leach, who displayed resilience in the first Test by picking up two wickets and contributing with bat and ball, missed the Ashes due to a lower-back stress fracture. The absence of Leach leaves England with an inexperienced spin attack for the remaining Tests.
Rehan Ahmed, Shoaib Bashir, and Tom Hartley, along with Joe Root, make up the spin attack. Rehan has played three Tests, Hartley made his debut in Hyderabad, and Bashir debuted in Visakhapatnam. England will commence training for the third Test, set to start on February 15 in Rajkot, after concluding their stay in Abu Dhabi and arriving in India on Monday.