Basil Thampi, who has recently been called to the Indian team for the T20I series against Sri Lanka, suffered a knee injury during the quarterfinal game between Kerala and Vidarbha in Surat.
It was the second day of the play when Thampi was hit by a direct throw from Sandeep Warrier on his left knee, a report in English.Manoramaonline suggests. Post the impact, Thampi left the field and did not bowl in Vidarbha innings after that.
Though Thampi is fit now and is expected to bat on day three of the contest. At the time of writing the news, Kerala were 116/4 in response to Vidarbha’s first innings score of 246. Opener Jalaj Saxena and skipper Sachin Baby were there at the crease on a score of 40* and 0* respectively.
Thampi would be relieved as the hit was not so hard which could have ruled him out of the T20I series. He is the new face in Indian T20I side against Sri Lanka. Along with him, Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar are the two other new faces in the squad while Jaydev Unadkat has also made a comeback to the side.
Meanwhile, Kerala – if they win this game – will miss Thampi in the next round due to his international commitments and also in the finals (subjected to qualification) as reports have suggested that Indian team management wants four extra pace bowlers for the tour of South Africa. These bowlers will bowl to Indian players in nets so as Indian batsmen can prepare well to face pace bowlers of South Africa on bouncy pitches.
The four bowlers who will be traveling to South Africa with team India are Navdeep Saini, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj and Thampi himself.
Video of the day –