Wrist sprain rules KL Rahul out of Australia Test series
India batsman KL Rahul has been ruled out of the remaining Test series against Australia with a sprained left wrist. The right-handed batsman had hurt his wrist during India's training session at the MCG, on Saturday. Although Rahul hadn't featured in the two Tests so far, he could have replaced Mayank Agarwal in the upcoming SCG Test, owing to his poor form.
Rahul will undergo rehabilitation at the NCA
A BCCI media release revealed that Rahul will return to India for rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and require "about three weeks' time to recover completely and regain full strength".
The Indian squad has endured multiple injuries this month
The members of Team India have been suffering Down Under with multiple injuries and the absence of senior players. After the Adelaide Test, the tourists missed the services of Virat Kohli, who returned back on paternity leave. Furthermore, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav are out with respective injuries. Even before the tour, India had lost senior pacer Ishant Sharma with an abdominal muscle tear.
Rohit Sharma to bolster India's batting
Rahul's absence won't impact the batting order much as Rohit Sharma has already joined the squad. The latter is expected to open the innings alongside Agarwal. Meanwhile, left-arm pacer T Natarajan is likely to replace the injured Umesh in the XI. The 29-year-old, in a recent tweet wrote, "A proud moment to wear the white jersey. Ready for the next set of challenges."
Here is the tweet of Natarajan
Team India gears up for the SCG Test
Despite the recent injuries and spate of controversies, Team India remains geared up for the impending Test at the SCG. Presently, the Border-Gavaskar series is leveled at 1-1 after the tourists won the Boxing Day Test. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who received adulation for his sharp decisions in the Test, would want to replicate the same in what is going to be a series-defining game.