The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad hums with anticipation as India and England brace for their first Test clash on January 25th. Both teams have landed and hit the ground running with practice sessions, but early tremors shook the Indian camp during their afternoon net session.
Middle-order mainstay Shreyas Iyer sent a wave of panic through the Indian ranks. While facing throwdowns, a ball struck his right forearm, visibly causing discomfort. He attempted to continue his batting drills but winced in pain, casting a shadow of doubt over his availability for the crucial encounter.
Iyer’s potential absence would be a major blow to a batting order already missing Virat Kohli until the third Test in Rajkot. Thankfully, the scare proved temporary. After receiving ice treatment from the physios, Iyer returned to the nets and resumed his practice.
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This incident, however, highlighted the significance of Iyer’s role in Kohli’s absence. Head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that KL Rahul, the wicketkeeper in the South Africa series, will purely focus on batting against England. This opens the door for KS Bharat, riding high after a stellar score against the England Lions in Ahmedabad.
Good signs for India, he’s back batting again after a brief break and treatment with an ice-pack. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/T9epFDAmbB
— Ganesh C (@ganeshcee) January 23, 2024
With Kohli’s absence leaving a gaping hole at number four, speculation swirls regarding batting order permutations. Rahul might be promoted up the order, batting ahead of Iyer and Bharat. The lower order will likely remain unchanged.
Across the aisle, the English camp isn’t entirely transparent either. Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, admitted uncertainty over skipper Ben Stokes’ match-readiness. While confirming Stokes’ fitness, McCullum emphasized that the team is in no rush to declare his availability for the opener.
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A late call is expected regarding Stokes’ inclusion, keeping the pre-match buzz alive. The opening Test promises to be a nail-biter, with both teams grappling with internal questions amidst the external hype. Will Iyer fully recover? Will KL Rahul bat higher? Will Ben Stokes lead the charge? These answers will unfold along with the runs and wickets as India and England clash on Thursday in Hyderabad.
