BCCI on Thursday confirmed that there were "no serious concerns" about skipper Virat Kohli's shoulder injury, which he picked up while fielding on the opening day of the third Test match against Australia.
Confirming that he was undergoing treatment for a mere strain, the BCCI medical team gave the 28-year-old the green signal to take part in the rest of the match.
“The BCCI Medical Team confirms that Indian Captain Virat Kohli is presently undergoing treatment to recuperate from a strain in his right shoulder. Relevant investigations have revealed that there are no serious concerns, which will hamper his speedy recovery from a strain in his right shoulder due to a fall while fielding on Day 1 of the third Test against Australia in Ranchi. He will continue to receive treatment, which will assist him to participate in the rest of the match,” BCCI said in a statement.
Kohli could not field more than half the day after landing awkwardly on his right shoulder trying to save a boundary in the mid-wicket region in the post-lunch session and went to the hospital for a scan.
There was a shock on his right shoulder, that’s the current status. But the exact status of the injury will be known by tomorrow morning (Friday) after we get the scan reports. We took precaution today (Thursday) to make sure that the injury does not aggravate.R Sridhar, India’s Fielding Coach
It was the start of the 39th over of day one of the match. Australia were batting on 129/3 with skipper Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb at the crease. A not so popular partnership among the Indians, but that’s another story.
Handscomb was at the crease, Ravindra Jadeja bowled at him and the Aussie smashed one towards the boundary. Virat Kohli gave a chase and in a last-ditch effort rolled near the boundary line to stop the ball.
The ball was stopped but in the process the Indian skipper hurt his shoulder. The physio guided him off the field.
Abhinav Mukund came in to replace Virat and Ajinkya Rahane took over the captaincy duties.
He was later treated with ice packs and was seen doing shadow practice inside the dressing room.
In case Kohli fails to take the field on day two, he will have to come lower down the order than his usual number four when India. When asked whether Virat would be able to bat, Sridhar said:
We will answer that when we get the correct status. Let’s cross the bridge when it comes.
Such was the impact that he had difficulty in standing up and was seen grimacing in pain right after the dive.
Sridhar said the ground was hard and sloping in nature.
It was fast sloping and hard as well. It had all the ingredients of a fast outfield.R Sridhar, India’s Fielding Coach
(With inputs from PTI)
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