New Delhi: The Indian team’s injury woes are getting worse with each passing day. The visitors are now struggling against time to have eleven players fit and available for the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, against Australia in Brisbane, which is starting from Friday (January 15).
Team India is going through an unfortunate injury crisis at the moment. The Men in Blue are already weakened by the service of Ishant Sharma, who couldn’t be a part of the squad due to an injury. While earlier in the series, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav were ruled out after sustaining injuries in the first and second Test respectively. KL Rahul has been ruled out of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy, due to a wrist injury he suffered while batting in the nets.
Earlier this week, Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari were also ruled out of the last Test due to thumb and hamstring injury respectively. Reports has emerged that speedster Jasprit Bumrah is also doubtful for the fourth Test due to an abdominal strain. Although an official update on Bumrah’s fitness is yet to be released, the pacer is said to have suffered an abdominal injury because of which he could hardly walk on Monday.
According to sources, the official report on Bumrah is yet to come out, but it looks like a muscle tear. “He had complained of some discomfort during the third Test in Sydney. But he soldiered on. Now, he looks in very bad shape after the Test finished on Monday,” a source close to the team was quoted as saying to TOI.
“It will be a big call to push him to play the next match. He could barely walk on Monday evening. It will be a miracle if he regains fitness for the match on Friday,” the source added Bumrah’s chances of reclaiming full fitness for the Brisbane Test.
With the upcoming home series against England, which is starting from February, India are slated to play four Tests. It looks highly unlikely that the team management will risk Bumrah in Brisbane. “The call that the management needs to take is if they are willing to risk Bumrah aggravating his injury. What happens if he breaks down in the middle of the match? Thus, it looks highly unlikely that he will be played at the Gabba at the moment,” the source added.
Speaking of the rest of the members of the squad, the source revealed that most of the players have been put on sedatives. The training sessions have also been made optional as the team management isn’t willing to take the risk of losing another player before even the match starts.
“Most of the players are on sedatives. They look exhausted. The team is trying to stay upbeat. There will be no intense gym sessions. If at all, there will be very basic sessions. Even the nets over the next two days will be very light to keep the players in touch. Probably, nets will be optional. The team management doesn’t want to risk any other player collapsing before the final Test,” the source added.
