Following India’s famous third test draw against Australia on Monday, the team’s injury concerns are beginning to grow. The leader of India’s pace attack, Jasprit Bumrah is believed to be carrying an abdominal strain. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) team management is clear that Team India will play Bumrah for the fourth test in Brisbane even if he is 50% fit.
A source quoted by ANI said that the three-day rest period should be sufficient for Bumrah to recuperate and perform during the fourth test which begins on Friday, January 15. The source went on to say that Bumrah would play in the Brisbane test even if it meant that he would miss the series against England at home starting February 5.
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“Mind over body for this one mate. We believe the three-day rest period is good enough to help him be completely ready for the fourth Test at The Gabba. Even if he is 50 per cent fit, he will play the game. We are looking to return with a 2-1 win,” the source was quoted as saying.
It’s worth pointing out that Ravindra Jadeja has already been ruled out of the Brisbane test due to a fractured left thumb he sustained while batting in the first innings in Sydney. Consequently, Jadeja never returned to the field or even to bat as Ashwin played ahead of him in the lineup.
Separately, Hanuma Vihari who was instrumental in edging out a draw for Team India on Monday is likely to miss the next test due to a Grade 2 tear on his right hamstring. Vihari was seen grabbing his hamstring during the course of his resilient innings on Monday.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who played a big role in securing the team’s draw along with Rishabh Pant, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Vihari, was reportedly suffering from back issues on Monday morning as per his wife Prithi.
“The man went to bed last night with a terrible back tweak and in unbelievable pain. He could not stand up straight when he woke up this morning. Could not bend down to tie his shoe laces. I am amazed at what @ashwinravi99 pulled off today,” she tweeted after the third test.
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However, it’s likely that Ashwin will play the Brisbane test as there have been no reports of him missing the deciding test match that starts on Friday.
Players of the squad and key elements of the Indian pace attack, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have already left the Indian squad with injuries. Shami suffered a broken hand while Yadav sustained a calf injury during the series.
Thanks to the aggressive and thoroughly entertaining innings of 97 by Rishabh Pant, there are rumours of playing both Saha and Pant for the fourth test with the former being the wicket-keeper and Pant playing solely as a specialist batsman. This also comes as Pant was seen missing a few chances behind the stumps during the third-test.
However, Pant more than redeemed himself with the knock, which even entertained the idea of India going on to win the test match. India had to change its plans as Pant fell for 97 with Pujara following shortly after, but not before showing great resistance. Vihari and Ashwin then dropped anchor to successfully save the test match from what seemed like a certain loss at the end of day 4.
“This is as good as winning a Test match, when you come abroad and play a match like this, it was really special. Credit to Ashwin and Vihari for the way they batted, Pujara, Rohit, Pant everyone chipped into the team's cause. But credit to Vihari and Ashwin for batting 2.5 hours in the end,” Team India skipper Ajinkya Rahane said at the post-match press conference.
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