'The feeling is surreal' – Anshul Kamboj reacts after receiving Test cap for India ahead of 4th Test vs England

Indian pacer Anshul Kamboj was full of emotion after earning his maiden Test cap for India, replacing the injured Akash Deep for the fourth Test against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Wednesday. “The feeling is surreal. So much that I can't express it in words. I will just look to do better as much as I can,” said the 24-year-old in a video shared by the BCCI. He received his cap from former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta, making him India's 318th Test cricketer.

Just a week ago, Kamboj had been training in Karnal with a Dukes ball, keeping himself ready for an opportunity. That moment arrived when injuries hit India’s pace unit, prompting the selectors to call up the consistent Haryana seamer. Over the past few domestic seasons, Kamboj has been among the standout performers, earning praise for his discipline and match-winning spells.

Kamboj's greatest achievement was in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy when he took all 10 wickets in an innings for Haryana against Kerala—a rare, historic achievement in Indian cricket. From then on, the right-arm medium pacer has continued to rise in stature, taking 79 wickets in 24 first-class games and contributing vital runs in the lower order.

Strong 'A' tour, IPL experience, and Test dream

Earlier this year, Kamboj further boosted his credentials during a four-day game for India ‘A’ against the England Lions in Northampton. He impressed by taking two wickets in each innings and scoring 51 not out, showing great maturity with bat and ball. That performance provides vital strength to his case for national selection.

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Kamboj was also part of the IPL 2025 season, representing Chennai Super Kings under the leadership of MS Dhoni. He played eight matches and took a total of eight wickets. He has had some success in IPL before but has always believed that success should be defined by Test cricket as the ultimate goal—and now, that dream has finally come true.