Afghan players are all set to feature in the longest format of the game in the one-off test against India. The match will be played on June 14 at Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha might miss the test due to a thumb injury. The Sunrisers keeper succumbed to an injury after being hit by Shivam Mavi in the Qualifier 2 at Eden Gardens. He didn”t feature in the final as Shreevats Goswami filled his shoes.
This injury may keep Saha out for a period of five to six weeks. Parthiv Patel or Dinesh Karthik is the probable contenders to earn a call-up. Reports suggest that the news has been informed to BCCI a day before the final. Saha hasn”t had a magnificent season in this edition of IPL as he managed to score just 87 runs.
“Saha has been advised more rest as his medical report says he has a broken thumb and he can only play cricket after 5-6 weeks. He got hit while batting in Kolkata and that is why he couldn’t play the final against Chennai Super Kings. The BCCI will be announcing his replacement soon for the Afghanistan Test,” sources in the BCCI told The Indian Express.
Saha played a vital role in the home tests against Australia when he scored a century at Ranchi and saved the match. However, he wasn”t consistent in the overseas as he suffered an injury in Southafrican tour that prompted Kohli to include Parthiv in the Johannesburg test.
It is to be noted that India will be already missing the services of the skipper Virat Kohli who is out due to a neck injury. This injury comes as a major blow for the Indian side and certainly the lineup might undergo some tinkering depending upon the replacement. Saha might feature in the full strength test squad for the England tour as the series commences only from August 1.
