Team India have suffered a big injury blow ahead of the crucial four-match IND vs AUS Test series. The much-anticipated series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to get underway on February 9 in Nagpur.
The IND vs AUS series is very crucial for both the teams especially India. The upcoming series will pretty much decide both the teams’ fate in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship final. As of now, Australia are at the top of the points table followed by India.
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And while Australia have one foot already in the final, the same cannot be said about Team India. The hosts need to perform really well if they are to make it back-to-back appearances in the World Test Championship final. A poor series could very much dash India’s hopes of playing in this year’s final.
IND vs AUS: India suffer injury setback:
As India gear up for the crucial IND vs AUS Test series, they have suffered a big injury setback as Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the first Test. The right-handed batsman is likely to be available for the second Test onwards but is set to miss the series-opener in Nagpur as he hasn’t completely recovered from his back injury.
Last month, Iyer had to opt out from the three match ODI series against New Zealand due to a back injury and was asked to head to National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for his rehab.
According to a report in the Indian Express, Iyer is still experiencing pain in his lower back despite taking injections. Consequently, the NCA has advised him to take rest for at least two more weeks. He will also not join the Indian team camp at Nagpur before the first Test match starting February 2.
“His injury hasn’t healed as expected and he will take two weeks at least to play cricket again. He will certainly not be available for the first Test and his availability for the second Test will be subject to his fitness report,” the news outlet quoted a source in the Indian board as saying.
It is interesting to see whether the national selection committee headed by Chetan Sharma will pick a replacement or will go ahead with a 15 member squad for the first Test at home. There have been calls to include Sarfaraz Khan in the squad and the selectors might finally give him a call-up.
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