IND vs ENG: Mark Wood Ruled Out of Test Series Against India, England Pacer Set For Four Months on Sidelines

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IND vs ENG: Mark Wood has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against India after it was confirmed that the England pacer will be sidelined for the next four months due to a knee injury.

Wood has been dealing with the knee issue for a while now, and the injury worsened during the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and UAE, where England made a disappointing group stage exit.

The 35-year-old quick was clocking consistent speed of near 150kmph in the Champions Trophy, but missed England's final game against South Africa due to the knee issue. Recent scans revealed a ligament damage in his left knee, forcing the need for surgery, which has ruled him out of action for an extended period, as per ICC.

"I am gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year. But I have got every confidence that I will be back firing on all cylinders now that I have been able to sort my knee out," Wood told England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), as quoted by ICC.

"I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support - and, of course, our fans. I cannot wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team."

Wood has been dealing with a persistent knee issue for over a year, but the discomfort worsened during England's ICC Champions Trophy group-stage match against Afghanistan. The increased stiffness ultimately led to further medical assessments, confirming the severity of the injury.

With the surgery now complete, the 35-year-old pacer is set to begin his rehabilitation process. Wood aims to regain full fitness by the end of July 2025. The speedster will miss at least three international assignments.

England is set to take on Zimbabwe in a one-off Test next in May, followed by a three-match ODI and T20I series against the West Indies before they take on India in a five-match Test series at home, starting June 20.