India have suffered a setback in their preparations for the eagerly-awaited four-Test series in Australia, with Prithvi Shaw ruled out of the next week’s opening Test at Adelaide with an ankle injury sustained during the third day of India’s tour game against Cricket Australia XI at Sydney.
Shaw, who was fielding at deep mid-wicket, caught CA XI opener Max Bryant just inside the boundary and while trying to keep the ball in play, he fell over as momentum carried him beyond.
The 19-year-old opener, in visible pain, was unable to put any pressure on his left leg, and was carried off the field after India physio Patrick Farhart rushed to attend to him.
A BCCI release confirmed Shaw had sustained a lateral ligament injury, which will keep him out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener starting on 6 December.
Having initially tweeted about Shaw being taken to a hospital, the BCCI soon announced the prodigious batsman’s absence for the Adelaide Test.
“Shaw will be unavailable for the First Test against Australia in Adelaide. He will undergo an intensive rehabilitation program to hasten the recovery and be available for selection at the earliest,” the BCCI release stated.
Injury at the eleventh hour jolts the visitors’ preparations for their bid to win a Test series in Australia for the first time. Batting coach Sanjay Bangar had said on Thursday, 29 November, that India were yet to settle on an opening combination for the first Test. Shaw’s injury may leave Virat Kohli’s side with no option.
KL Rahul and Murali Vijay are the two remaining recognised opening batsmen in the travelling squad, while back-up wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel too has opened the batting in the recent past, last assuming the role in the second innings of India’s win against South Africa at Johannesburg in January.
With BCCI’s release clearly stating the management expects Shaw to be fit soon, it appears unlikely that India will draft a replacement for the teenager. Recently-discarded Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal – part of India’s squad for the Windies Tests – are the likeliest contenders, if India do opt for one.
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