Keaton Jennings will make his Test debut in Mumbai as England captain Alastair Cook’s latest opening partner.
Cook confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday that the 24-year-old will become his 11th partner at the top of the order since the retirement of Andrew Strauss four years ago.
South Africa-born Jennings’ chance has come after teenager Haseeb Hameed broke his left hand in last week’s defeat in Mohali and had to fly home for surgery.
Jennings and slow left-armer Liam Dawson were added to the squad for injured pair Hameed and Zafar Ansari.
England will try to battle back from 2-0 down against India, with two left to play.
Jennings will start his Test career on the back of a debut century for England Lions last week, and Cook said of his senior call-up: “He is going to play. He is going to open the batting – another great opportunity for a guy.
“He’s in good touch, has spent some time in the middle for the Lions – making a hundred – and it is a very special day for him tomorrow.”
England are less sure about Stuart Broad’s fitness after his strained tendon in his right foot, which ruled him out of the third-Test defeat in Mohali.
Cook described the seamer’s chances of playing in Mumbai as “50-50”.
