Irfan Pathan picks India’s playing XI for ENG vs IND 2025 4th Test; makes 3 changes

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has picked India’s playing XI for the fourth Test match against England. Pathan has proposed three changes to India’s final XI for the Old Trafford Test. The former left-arm swing bowler has backed the same openers – Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul – in the team.

Pathan said he wants to see Sai Sudharsan in place of Karun Nair at number three position. Sudharsan was dropped after returning with scores of 0 and 30 in his debut Test at Leeds, Headingley whereas Nair has failed to grab his chances in three Test matches. 

Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “One factor will be whether they persist with Karun Nair, who has played some good innings. The runs haven’t come. No big score has come. His highest has been 40. But it didn’t look like he was struggling. If someone is struggling, then yes, you can bench him. But I believe Sai should be played. The logic is that he’s a left-handed batsman. And from what I’ve observed, the England team has bowled better to right-handed batsmen than to left-handers. That’s how it looked to me. They haven’t bowled as well to lefties.”

Pathan backed Rishabh Pant to play purely as a batter in the fourth Test against England. Pant has scored 425 runs in three Test matches of the series but he suffered a finger injury in the third Test.

Pathan added, “Rishabh Pant is also injured. But let me tell you, I’m in favour of Rishabh Pant playing as a batsman. If Jurel comes in as his replacement, the issue is that the Indian team really likes his batting, and he’s an exciting talent. You’ll remember that 90-run knock he played in a Test match in India. Anyway, I think he will bat well whenever he plays. But in wicketkeeping, Jurel will have to be careful. In the last match, there were a lot of byes on the leg side. That blind spot needs improvement. He has to keep that in mind. He did take a good catch, but there were too many extras in the last Test, and that made a big difference.”

The fourth Test match between England and India will be played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 onwards.