In a devastating setback for India after their humiliating defeat in the first Test against England at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and batter KL Rahul have been ruled out of the upcoming second game. Jadeja suffered a hamstring injury on Day 4 of the initial match, while Rahul reported pain in his right quadriceps.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team is closely monitoring the recovery of the duo, and the Men’s selection committee has swiftly named replacements. Notably, Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan has earned his maiden call-up to the Indian team after a prolonged wait. Sarfaraz showcased exceptional form in the Ranji Trophy, amassing 928 runs at an average of 154.66 during the 2019-20 season and leading the run charts with 982 runs at an average of 122.75 in the 2021-22 season.
Despite Sarfaraz’s consistent performances, selectors overlooked him in previous instances, favouring Suryakumar Yadav for the Test series against Australia in February-March 2023. Now, with an opportunity at hand, Sarfaraz joins the squad alongside spin all-rounder Washington Sundar and Uttar Pradesh’s left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar.
Jadeja and Rahul’s absence comes as a significant blow for India, considering their stellar performances in the first Test, where Jadeja scored 87 runs and claimed five wickets, while Rahul contributed with an impressive 86 runs. With India trailing 0-1 in the series, the team management faces a daunting task in finding suitable replacements.
Complicating matters, Virat Kohli’s absence from the first two Tests due to personal reasons adds to the challenges. As the Rohit Sharma-led side prepares for the second Test at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, the updated squad includes key players such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, and the newly inducted Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, and Sourabh Kumar.
The team is tasked with making a strong comeback in the series despite the absence of crucial players. With the second Test scheduled to commence on Friday, February 02, the onus is on the remaining players to rally and overcome the challenges ahead.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
