Indian batter Shreyas Iyer is ruled out of the first Test against Australia to be held in Nagpur from 9 February due to a back injury. According to Indian Express, Iyer will be fit before the second test. However, no official information has been given by the Indian Cricket Board regarding this.
Iyer was also ruled out of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a back injury and was asked to go to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for rehab. Despite having the treatment, Iyer is not fully recovered from the injury. After this, the NCA advised Iyer to rest for at least two more weeks.
For the first Test, the Indian Team camp will be held in Nagpur from February 2, in which Iyer will not participate. He will stay in NCA for rehab. If Iyer is out then Suryakumar Yadav may get a chance to make his Test debut. Suryakumar has been included in the team for the first two Test matches against Australia. He has been selected for the Test squad for the first time.
Ravindra Jadeja likely to play the first match
The good news for the Indian Team is the return of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja has been out of the team since last year’s Asia Cup due to a knee injury. He played his last Test in July last year. Jadeja recently proved his match fitness while playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. Jadeja took 7 wickets in 41.1 overs in the second innings of the match against Tamil Nadu in Chennai.
After the match, which his side lost, Jadeja said that he was “good to go” for the Tests against Australia. One of the official cricket board’s physios travelled with the all-rounder to keep a track of his fitness. Jadeja is back at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to complete his final round of fitness tests. The last Test match Jadeja played was back in July 2022 against England, a rescheduled fifth Test from the series that took place in 2021.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
Should have considered Sarfaraz in the squad
— रण धीर 🇮🇳 (@havocrd) February 1, 2023
Feeling sad for Gill & @sarfarazkhan977 with 69 others… pic.twitter.com/TY42tRPRsq
— Jivendra Singh (@Jivendr) February 1, 2023
Bechare vihari aur Agrawal….sarfaraz ko hi le lete
— Puneet (@Puneetgulati) February 1, 2023
Surya ke career ke to lag gaye
— crickaddict45 (@crickaddict45) February 1, 2023
Why no Hanuma Vihari ! He has done well whenever given a chance. Also he can give some overs as a part time bowler.
— SUBHAM SINGHANIA 🇮🇳 (@singhaniasubh12) February 1, 2023
Oh no… SKY should not be given priority compared to others who are knocking the door hard on test cricket based on 1st class cricket stats.
— Rakesh | இராக்கேஷ் (@k_rakesh_tamil) February 1, 2023
Very Bad decision to play test cricket. Let SKY focus on T20 . This can destroy the natural hitting ability of SKY. Test bench is with us utilities that.
— RAAJ (@RAJ_B1996) February 1, 2023
Any chance of Sanju samson replace injurd Shreys
— DS GURJAR (@MukeshA50361528) February 1, 2023
