Team India has performed really well even without key players in the side Down Under. Ajinkya Rahane & Co scripted a memorable 8-wicket victory in Melbourne without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami.
Shami was ruled out of the series after picking up a blow-off Pat Cummins’ bouncer in the first Test at Adelaide Oval. Umesh Yadav also left the field midway through the MCG Test. He was taken for scans and was subsequently ruled out of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series.
Mohammed Siraj was called in as Umesh Yadav’s replacement for the second Test. Going into the third Test match at the SCG, both teams had their moments during the game.
The hosts and the visitors settled for a 1-1 draw. Sadly, Team India suffered three more injuries during the game. Ravindra Jadeja picked up a blow to his left thumb off Mitchell Starc’s bowling.
During India’s run-chase of 407, when they already lost 5 wickets, Jadeja was seen sitting inside the dressing room and was ready to come out to bat after taking injections. Thankfully, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari survived the deadly Australian bowling attack on the judgment day.
Jadeja has been ruled out of the Brisbane Test at the Gabba with a fractured thumb. Apart from him, Vihari is also ruled out with a hamstring tear. India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will also not play the fourth and final Test match on January 15.
Bumrah sustained an abdominal strain while fielding in the SCG Test. He will be sidelined from the next Test but is expected to be available for the forthcoming four-match Test series against England. KL Rahul flew to India after picking up a sprain in his right wrist.
Virender Sehwag has a hilarious request for BCCI
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag is quite a busy man on Twitter. Every now and then, he chips in with interesting tweets and opinions about the gentleman’s game. The Nawab of Najafgarh has been closely following Indian cricket and his tweets about the same services as a testament to the fact.
While Team India is currently going through an injury crisis in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy series, Virender Sehwag came up with a hilarious request for the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Sehwag had jokingly asked BCCI to play at The Gabba amid India’s injury concerns. In his previous tweet, he hilariously told he would come out of retirement to play for India in this injury crisis.
Talking about his current tweet, he requested BCCI to head to The Gabba to play the fourth Test if the current Indian team is falling short of players. “itne sab players injured hain, 11 na ho rahe hon toh Australia jaane ko taiyaar hoon, quarantine dekh lenge @BCCI,” tweeted the former Indian opener.
Possible replacements
Shardul Thakur is likely to replace Jasprit Bumrah in the fourth Test. As per the reports, Washington Sundar will replace Jadeja. After the T20I series, Sundar was asked to stay back with the Indian Test squad as a net bowler. Meanwhile, Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw are the top contenders to replace the injured Vihari in the middle-order.
