AUS vs IND: Big blow to India as Shami ruled out of series with fractured arm
India pacer Mohammed Shami has suffered a fracture in his right forearm, ruling him out of the remaining Tests against Australia, reports have emerged. Batting at No.11, Shami was hit by a Pat Cummins delivery in the second innings of the opening Test at Adelaide on Saturday.
Massive blow to India. @MdShami11 will not take further part on this tour as he has suffered a fracture when hit on the hand by a short ball in Saturday’s debacle
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 20, 2020
Who could replace Shami?
Shami’s injury deals a massive blow to India’s pace department, which was already hit by Ishant Sharma’s absence even before the series began. The Indian team is already trailing 0-1 in the four-Test series, with the day-night Test ending in less than three days. Captain Virat Kohli confirmed in the post-match presentation that Shami was in ‘pain’ and could not even lift his bowling hand. Further scans revealed the fast bowler has suffered a fracture.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to name a replacement for Shami. Given the circumstances, the team management will have to choose between Kartik Tyagi, Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan – who are currently Team India’s reserve/net bowlers. One of Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj, both already part of the squad, is likely to make his Test debut.
India’s woes continue
The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starts on December 26 (Boxing Day) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. With less than a week left, India will have more than one headache going into the Test. Ajinkya Rahane will take over as the captain, with Kohli returning home for the birth of his first child.
Batsman Rohit Sharma, who has already reached Australia, is currently serving his mandatory 14-day quarantine, which means he won’t be available before the third Test starting January 07. Prithvi Shaw’s poor form with the bat could tempt the team management to give KL Rahul a go. Shubman Gill, who impressed in the warm-up games could replace Kohli, while Rishabh Pant could come in for Wriddhiman Saha.
