Anshul Kamboj Under Fire as India Struggles – Dhoni’s Old Advice Goes Viral

Team India’s run in the current England series hasn’t been easy, with a bunch of bad injuries hitting the team hard. Right before the important fourth Test, Nitish Kumar, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh all had to drop out, which is giving the team managers a real headache when picking players. India’s injury woes forced the team to call up uncapped Haryana seamer Anshul Kamboj on short notice

The worst part was when Rishabh Pant broke his right toe on the first day of the Old Trafford Test. He was trying a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes. This guy, who’s a great wicketkeeper and batter, and only just got back on the field after a really bad car accident, is now out again. It makes you wonder if he’ll be okay in the long run.

Anshul Kamboj’s tough time brings up questions.

India’s injury problems meant they had to quickly bring in Anshul Kamboj, a new fast bowler from Haryana. But his performance has people wondering.

Kamboj was coming back from a shin injury he got while touring with India A, and it looked like he was having a hard time. His bowling speed went down, and after giving up 89 runs in 18 overs and only getting one batter out, captain Shubman Gill decided not to let him bowl anymore.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who used to play spin for India, had some strong words about it:

“He looked like he was struggling. I praised him yesterday, but today I was shocked. He was bowling faster in the IPL,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Did Anshul Kamboj Hide His Injury?

Reports suggest that Anshul Kamboj didn’t go to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in the first instance to report for rehab before offering his fitness for national duty recently, which stirred a lot of things in the cricketing circles, particularly after the Indian bowling unit collapsed to concede 669 runs in the first innings in England.

This caused fans and commentators to make comparisons to an injury crisis in 2009 when former Indian captain MS Dhoni was forced to tackle injuries that hadn’t been reported during the T20 World Cup.

Flashback: Dhoni’s 2009 Warning on Hidden Injuries

During the 2009 T20 World Cup, Team India had a disappointing run and got knocked out in the Super 8s. After the tournament, it came out that five senior players had been carrying injuries but hadn’t told the captain or the BCCI.

For example, Virender Sehwag was out with a shoulder injury but didn’t play a single match.

Dhoni’s message was clear:

“It is the team first and then the individuals. Please report any niggle or fatigue to me or the BCCI. Rest is better than risking major setbacks.”

He stressed that no player should hide injuries out of fear of losing their place, highlighting the importance of honesty and thinking long-term instead of quick fixes.

Also Read: Top 10 MS Dhoni Greatest Moments That Changed Indian Cricket Forever

Dhoni’s words still ring true in 2025

The Anshul Kamboj situation reminds us of the lack of transparency that hurt India back in 2009.

Ashwin was right when he said we need more bowlers who are fit and ready. We have to make sure everyone passes tough fitness tests before they play in international games.

“The only solution is to create a bigger pool of bowlers,” Ashwin concluded.

Bigger Picture: Time for BCCI to Enforce Stricter Protocols?

With the BCCI already facing criticism for poor fitness management in recent tours, this situation could serve as a wake-up call. India can’t afford to lose key players like Pant because of rushed returns or let bowlers play Tests when they’re only half-fit, risking serious long-term injuries.

Stronger medical protocols, required rehab time, and honesty from players might be what separates success from disappointment in important tournaments.

It may be said that MS Dhoni put it best by stating that it is always team first. Part of the justification of Dhoni’s advice will soon be a lesson for the current generation of players. The time for India with injuries and some underperformance should focus on protecting fitness, being honest with the long-term and health, rather than the short-term focus on pretence.