India’s hopes of bouncing back in the five-match Test series against England have taken a major blow with the news that star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and pace spearhead Mohammed Shami are likely to miss the entire series. This comes after both players sustained injuries during the first Test in Hyderabad.
Jadeja, who picked up a hamstring niggle on Day 4, has begun rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. While initial reports suggested he might miss only the second Test, recent updates indicate a longer recovery period of 4-8 weeks. This throws his participation in the remaining three Tests into serious doubt, with the fourth Test in Ranchi offering a faint hope at best.
Shami, on the other hand, is currently in London undergoing treatment for an ankle injury. Surgery is a possibility, but there’s no clear timeline for his return. This is a significant setback for India’s bowling attack, as Shami’s experience and pace were crucial in the first Test.
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The absence of these two key players adds to India’s injury woes, with KL Rahul also ruled out of the second Test due to a quadriceps issue. However, there’s some positive news regarding Rahul’s recovery, with reports suggesting he could be fit for the third Test due to the extended break.
Major blows for Indian cricket team: Mohammed Shami out of England Tests, Ravindra Jadeja too doubtful for few weeks – report#INDvsENG #MohammedShami #RavindraJadejahttps://t.co/Uazf7ZLgOT pic.twitter.com/ceKwxHKVEq
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) February 1, 2024
This leaves the Indian team management with a major selection headache. They need to find replacements for Jadeja’s all-round abilities and Shami’s pace attack, while also managing the workload of the remaining players. Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj are likely to shoulder the pace bowling burden, while Axar Patel or Jayant Yadav could step in for Jadeja’s spin bowling and batting contributions.
England, on the other hand, have received a boost with veteran James Anderson returning to the playing XI for the second Test. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir will make his debut, replacing Jack Leach who is out with a knee injury.
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With a depleted bowling attack and crucial players missing, India faces an uphill battle to level the series against a confident England side. The second Test in Visakhapatnam starting on February 2nd will be a crucial test of their resilience and ability to adapt to the challenges presented by injuries.
