(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] After suffering a humbling defeat by 28 runs in the first Test of the ongoing five-match series against England at Hyderabad, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced on Monday that two crucial Indian players, middle-order batter KL Rahul and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, have been ruled out of the second Test scheduled to commence on February 2 at Visakhapatnam.
Rahul cited pain in his right quadriceps, while Jadeja sustained an injury during the fourth day’s play when attempting a quick single.
Reflecting on their performances in the Hyderabad Test, Jadeja showcased brilliance with both bat and ball in the initial stages, securing three crucial wickets and emerging as the highest run-scorer for India in the first innings with a commendable 87 runs. However, his performance waned in the latter half of the Test, where he managed only two wickets and scored a mere two runs in the second innings.
On the other hand, Rahul, despite a promising start with 86 runs in the first innings, failed to convert his innings into a century and struggled with a meager 22 runs in the second innings.
Sources suggest that Rahul may stage a comeback later in the series. However, reports concerning Jadeja’s injury are less optimistic, indicating a potential sidelining for the entire series.
“Rahul could perhaps return later in this series, but Jadeja’s injury could be more serious. Let’s see what the NCA’s medical team tells us,” a BCCI source said as quoted to TOI.
The BCCI announced Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar and Sourabh Kumar as replacements for the injured players. Sourabh was selected as Jadeja’s like-for-like replacement, having recently impressed with six wickets, including a fifer in the second innings for India A in the second unofficial Test against England Lions at Ahmedabad. Despite Sourabh’s inclusion, Jadeja’s batting prowess will be sorely missed by the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma.
The news of the injuries dealt a blow to the Indian team, who faltered in the series-opener despite commanding the first two days of the Test. The road ahead remains challenging as India’s premier batter Virat Kohli will also be unavailable for the second Test, further diminishing the home team’s chances against the formidable English side.