The veteran Indian all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, who returned to competitive cricket in Saurashtra’s Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu last week, has been cleared to play for India in the opening Test of the 4-match series against Australia, starting February 9 in Nagpur. According to a Cricbuzz report, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on Wednesday (February 1) issued a fitness report on Jadeja’s readiness to play.
NCA’s report has allowed the all-rounder to join the rest of the squad in Nagpur, where the team will assemble for a short preparation camp ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Jadeja, who was out of action for close to six months as he was nursing a knee injury, was named in India’s squad for the first couple of Tests of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
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However, BCCI said that his inclusion was subject to his fitness before the first Test. A fit-again Jadeja made a stunning comeback with a seven-wicket haul in the second innings against Tamil Nadu where he managed to bowl 41.1 overs in the Ranji match. He also registered scores of 15 and 25 in the two innings to dismiss all doubts regarding his fitness.
🔹The NCA has cleared Ravindra Jadeja to join the India Test squad in Nagpur.
🔸Shreyas Iyer will continue to be monitored #INDvAUS https://t.co/0Gb6WTUpJ4
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 2, 2023
On the other hand, the hosts are sweating over the availability of in-form middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer for the Test series opener. Iyer was ruled out of the recently held ODI series against New Zealand as he suffered some stiffness in his back and checked into the NCA for rehabilitation work.
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The report from Cricbuzz read: “While those monitoring Iyer’s fitness status have yet to categorically rule him out of the Nagpur game, he is set to remain at the NCA in Bengaluru and work on his rehab program in a bid to be available for the second Test in Delhi starting February 17.”
