As per new reports, Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma could miss the entirety of the upcoming 4-match Test Series against Australia which begins on December 17 with a Day-Night test match in Adelaide. The two are not a part of the Team India limited-overs squad which is already in Australia for the limited-overs series starting with the first ODI on November 27 in Sydney.
According to reports, Rohit and Ishant will be unable to regain fitness and join the team before the end of the test series, thus putting their participation in doubt. It was previously said that Rohit would regain fitness by the beginning of the test series, which apparently seems unlikely at this point.
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Pacer Ishant Sharma has been recuperating from an injury at National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Ishant sustained the injury during the initial stages of the recently concluded IPL 2020 tournament. As per people with knowledge of the NCA reports, the pacer’s report isn’t very encouraging.
This could possibly impact India’s chances in the Test series against Australia as skipper Virat Kohli will leave the squad on paternity leave for the birth of his first child after the conclusion of the first test. As for Rohit and Ishant’s participation, Team India coach Ravi Shastri had previously said that both players need to get on a plane within 3-4 days to take part in the test series.
In an interview with the Australian media outlet, ABC Sports, Shastri said - “He (Rohit) was never going to play the white-ball series, they were just looking to see how long he needed the rest, because you can’t afford to be resting for too long. If you need to play in the Test series or any red-ball cricket, you’ve got to be on the flight in the next three or four days. If you aren’t, then it’s going to be tough.”
“It’s a similar case (Ishant’s injury) to Rohit. You don’t really know how quickly he’ll be available to fly out. Like I said, if anyone has to play in the Test series, he has to be on the flight in the next four or five days. Otherwise, it’s very difficult,” he added.
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It is said that experts from the NCA have conveyed the fitness information of both players to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), team management, as well as the national selectors.
The team management has reportedly said that the two players should be sent over to Australia only if they are fully fit. Though there were question marks on Rohit Sharma’s fitness during the last stages of the IPL this year, he continued to play in the crucial games, including the Finals. However, given the toll that test matches can take on the body, a higher level of fitness is expected from players.
It’s currently unclear whether Rohit’s participation in the IPL hurt his chances for the test series in Australia. Rohit was rested from the limited-overs leg of the Australia series so as to recuperate for the test series. Meanwhile, during Virat Kohli’s absence, Ajinkya Rahane is expected to take over the captaincy of the Indian test team.
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