Team India fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who limped off the field on day 3 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is likely to miss the third Test. Young fast bowler T Natarajan, who made his limited-overs debut earlier in this series, is likely to join the squad as a cover-up.
Incidentally, the fast bowler from Vidarbha limped over on completing his follow-through, looked to be in a lot of pain, calls for the physio and walks off gingerly. He looked in great rhythm during Australia’s second innings after removing Joe Burns but his stay was cut short due to an untimely injury. And as it looks, Umesh will have to miss the next encounter scheduled to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Umesh Yadav to miss next Test
Umesh Yadav was sent for scans yesterday and a report in ANI has confirmed that the fast bowler will miss the next game. It also added that Umesh will look to get 100 percent fit for the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The list of injuries seems to increase for India after they lost Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar early before a fractured arm in the first Test ruled Mohammed Shami out of the Test series.
“His scans have come in and he will miss the third Test as well. He will now look at making a return for the last game of the series as we have more than two weeks to go before we play the final game from January 15,” the source said to ANI.
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Asked how that places the bowling unit, the source said T Natarajan who had a brilliant run in the limited-overs series could be added to the main Test squad. The young left-arm fast bowler has looked impressive even in the nets as he travels with the squad as a practice bowler/
“With limited options available, the team management can ask for Natarajan to be added to the squad,” the source said.
Meanwhile, India have levelled terms in the series winning the Boxing Day Test by eight wickets with skipper Ajinkya Rahane leading the team from the front. The third match will be a crucial encounter with a lot at stake for both the teams.