Already massively hit by injuries and the withdrawal of key players, the situation for the Indian team appears even gloomier than anticipated at this stage. The second Test versus England, scheduled to commence in Visakhapatnam on Friday, will be missing several key players, including Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami. The predicament may persist for the remaining three Tests as well, with perhaps only a couple of exceptions. Already one down in the five-Test series, the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid combination may have to fight the Ben Stokes’ England team without some of their regular players.
Cricbuzz understands that Jadeja’s hamstring injury may require more time for recovery than initially stated – normally hamstring issue need between four-eight weeks to heal — and he could be sidelined for an extended period. In fact, insiders suggest that it would be remarkable if he manages to be fit for the fourth Test in Ranchi from February 23 to 27, making him almost certain to miss the third Test in his hometown of Rajkot. The recent BCCI media release mentions his absence only for the second Test.
The situation with Shami is also not promising. The pacer is grappling with an ankle issue during landing, as reported by Cricbuzz multiple times. He is currently in London, and while there is no immediate information about surgery, he is believed to be undergoing treatments for the ankle with injections. It is almost certain he will not be available for any match of the ongoing five-Test series. From which stage will he be able to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) scheduled for March to May is the question.
As for Kohli, there has been silence all round, with the BCCI itself requesting privacy. This website, refraining from delving into the reasons for his absence, can reveal that the star batter is currently out of the country, leaving a question mark over his availability for the remaining matches. The BCCI though initially had announced that his withdrawal was only for the first two Tests.
The status of Rahul does not seem as alarming as others as of now, and indications are that he could be ready for the third Test starting on February 15. According to the BCCI, Rahul complained of right quadriceps pain, related to the thigh surgery he underwent in 2022. The BCCI is understood to have taken precautions considering he has one of the key batsmen in the side. He is currently attached to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), similar to Jadeja. The belief is that Rahul will recover in time for the third Test, given the substantial gap between the second and third Test