India captain Rohit Sharma was struck on his left knee during a practice session at the MCG on Sunday ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. The 37-year-old was hit while facing throwdown specialist Daya. He continued batting briefly but later sought attention from the team physio, according to the Times of India.
The report adds that Rohit removed his gear when the physio attended to him and applied an ice pack. The physio then propped his left leg on a chair for comfort and rest. Rohit appeared in visible pain during the treatment, which could be concerning for Team India.
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With four days left before the Boxing Day Test, the team will hope that the knee injury isn’t severe and that Rohit can recover in time for the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is tied at 1-1.
Sunday marked India’s second training session ahead of the Test, with all players present, including Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, who were seen experimenting with different techniques.
Rohit Sharma eager to regain his form
The Indian captain has struggled with his batting form, posting disappointing performances in his last five Tests. Rohit Sharma missed the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, which India won by 295 runs under Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership.
He returned for the next two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane but failed to make an impact with the bat, and his captaincy was at times questioned. In Adelaide, he scored just 3 and 6, and in the Gabba Test, he managed only 10 runs in the first innings.
Rohit has the lowest first-innings average among Indian batters in Tests for 2024-25. After the draw at the Gabba, he acknowledged that his recent performances were below par but expressed full confidence in his abilities.
“Yeah, I have not batted well. There is no harm in accepting that. But I know what’s in my mind, how I am preparing myself. All those boxes are very much ticked. It’s just about spending as much time as possible batting,” Rohit told reporters at the post-match press conference.
“Which I am pretty sure I am just there. As long as my mind, my body, my feet are moving well. I am pretty happy with how things are panning out for me. Sometimes those numbers can tell you that it’s been a while since he has got big runs.”
“But for a person like me, I think it’s all about how I feel in my mind. What kind of prep I am having before each game. And how I am feeling about myself. That’s the most important thing,” he added.
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