IND vs ENG: Who is the Indian-origin player fielding for England Today? Know the Gujarati who replaced Ben Stokes, holds Academic Excellence

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In the ongoing Test match between India and England, a substitute fielder of the English team has caught the attention.

On the 3rd day of the match, the player has come on to field, replacing England captain Ben Stokes, and his familiarity with an Indian has sparked interest among fans.

IND vs ENG: Who is the Indian-origin player fielding for England?

The player who is fielding for England is Yorkshire's Yash Vagadia, who is a known country cricketer.

Yash Vagadia, born on 7 May 2004 in Newcastle upon Tyne, is rapidly emerging as one of England's most promising young cricketers. A right-handed batsman and off-spin bowling all-rounder, he was nurtured from a tender age within Yorkshire's acclaimed academy-joining at just eleven years old.

From captaining academy and Under-18 teams to earning his first professional contract ahead of the 2023 season, Vagadia's ascent has been both steady and impressive. Although a Gujarati by origin, Vagadia holds English passport.

Off the pitch, the 21-year-old is equally committed. He is studying Biology and Chemistry at university and has already earned accolades for his academic dedication, balancing top-level cricket with strong academic results. His ability to maintain excellence in both spheres marks him as a rare dual-threat talent.

IND vs ENG: Why is Yash Vagadia fielding for England?

As England captain Ben Stokes has gone off, Vagadia was seen fielding for the team. In English cricket, players are called up as 12th man for just fielding purpose even without being a part of the main squad. Vagadia has just been one of those players and that's why, he has replaced Stokes on the field. Apart from him, Jawad Akhtar and Noah Kelly are the other designated fielders for England in this Headingley Test.

India are currently looking good in the 2nd innings as KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan have stitched a decent partnership after Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed early. India are 65 for 1 at the time of publishing and had a 6-run lead from the first innings.