Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja: The two left-handed Indian batsmen had suffered respective injuries while batting on Day 3.
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With Australia taking their lead to 276 runs in the second innings, warning bells have been ringing for India for sometime now. Out of the five remaining sessions of the match, the hosts are likely to bat for at least one of them to hand India a daunting target on the last two days.
What has further added to the Indian woes is the absence of wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Been the pick of the Indian bowlers in the first innings, India would have hoped for Jadeja to do equally well in the second one as well but that won’t be the case now especially while bowling.
While Pant had injured his elbow while wanting to pull Pat Cummins in the first innings, Jadeja’s attempt to defend a Mitchell Starc delivery saw him dislocating a finger.
Will Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja bat today vs Australia in Sydney?
According to a brief update provided by a BCCI spokesperson, both the players are undergoing respective treatments after leaving the Sydney Cricket Ground for scans yesterday.
“Rishabh Pant still has some pain in his elbow. He is currently being treated. Ravindra Jadeja has a dislocation in his left thumb,” a BCCI spokesperson said on Sunday before play started on Day 4.
A bit of extra tape for Jadeja’s injured thumb 👎 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/9LIkM19vx8
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 9, 2021
If reports doing the rounds are to be believed, Pant is more likely to bat in the second innings. However, it will be interesting to see if he bats at his usual batting position of No. 6 or not. The same can’t be said about him wicket-keeping in whatever remaining is left of Australia’s second innings.
Rishabh Pant had a net with and without the strap over his elbow & arm under the constant supervision of the team physio. His status as of now still seems to be “will bat if needed”. Doesn’t look a 100 per cent but is showing a lot of guts & grit #AusvIND @cricbuzz pic.twitter.com/QcrADPu9DG
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 10, 2021
Jadeja, on the other hand, is reported to be the unlikeliest of the two to bat today or tomorrow. Likely to be out of action for the next two to three weeks, fans might only get to see a gutsy Jadeja coming out to bat if it comes to winning or drawing the match amid a tight situation.
