In-form Shikhar Dhawan gets a major injury scare before the South Africa series
The Indian team has left for South Africa. India’s tour of South Africa will begin in a week’s time from 05 January 2018.
India is well prepared for the African challenge and the Africans are also in good spirits after beating Zimbabwe in just two days of Test cricket.
All was going well for the Indians before Dhawan was seen limping in the hotel lobby. This is a big news as far as the Indian camp is concerned.
Shikhar Dhawan is at risk of missing the first test against South Africa
Dhawan was in red-hot form and was looking ready to face the likes of Steyn, Morkel and Philander. Currently, India has 3 batsmen for the opening slots; Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan.
If Dhawan has to sit out of the opening test match, KL Rahul might get lucky and try to grab his opportunity with both hands. Rahul played brilliantly in the T20 series against Sri Lanka and scored 2 fifties in 3 matches accumulating 154 runs.
https://twitter.com/BCCI_Men/status/946061173543256066
Dhawan was seen limping in the hotel, while he was being helped to walk by Indian team’s physio Patrick Farhat. His left ankle was heavily strapped.
A senior BCCI official told PTI, “Shikhar Dhawan’s ankle is being assessed. The physio is yet to give any report to the national selectors. As of now, he is travelling with the team. However, it can’t be ascertained whether he will be available for the first Test match or not.”
Now, if the 32-year-old misses the first test, another opener from Tamil Nadu, Abhinav Mukund may be called up as a backup option.
The reports of the MRI scan and the treatment of Dhawan will tell us whether he will be fit in time or not.
AUTHOR’S TAKE:
The Indian team will want Dhawan to be fit as soon as possible as the tracks in South Africa help batsmen like him, and in the form that he is now, he will be a huge wicket.
If not, KL Rahul will be expected to put on display his class like he did in Australia a few years back.
