India’s star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja faces the likelihood of missing the third Test against England, commencing on February 15 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. This setback comes after Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during Day 4 of the first Test in Hyderabad, ruling him out of the upcoming second Test in Visakhapatnam, which is scheduled to begin on February 02.
Undertaking rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru since January 30, Jadeja has been consistently updating fans on his recovery progress. However, recent reports from Cricbuzz indicate that his recuperation may take more time than initially anticipated, with a projected recovery period ranging between four to eight weeks.
Consequently, the possibility of Jadeja returning to full fitness for the fourth Test in Ranchi, scheduled from February 23 to 27, appears challenging.
Ravindra Jadeja is doubtful for the third test against England (Source : Cricbuzz) pic.twitter.com/06CAxQn9mI
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Adding to India’s woes, uncertainties surround the availability of speedster Shami, who is currently in London for an ankle injury without any details about his surgical procedure. Reports suggest that Shami is undergoing treatments involving injections and is unlikely to participate in the remaining matches against England.
Virat Kohli’s absence further compounds India’s predicament, with the former captain currently out of the country, as per the Cricbuzz report. However, amidst these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope for India as batsman KL Rahul is expected to regain fitness for the third Test.
Having complained of right quadriceps pain during the first game, Rahul was rested as a precautionary measure and is anticipated to be available for the third Test due to the considerable gap between the second and third matches.
In contrast, England has faced its share of setbacks, with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir set to make his debut in the second Test, replacing the injured Jack Leach. Additionally, veteran seamer James Anderson is slated to join the playing XI, taking the place of Mark Wood.
As injuries continue to mount for India, the team management faces the daunting challenge of finalizing the playing combination for the upcoming Test, underscoring the uncertainty and fluidity in the squad dynamics.
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