Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma: The two senior Indian cricketers have been ruled out of the first two Test matches in Australia.
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India opening batsman Rohit Sharma and fast bowler Ishant Sharma have both been ruled out of the first two Test matches against Australia starting from December 17.
Both the senior cricketers are currently in the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru trying hard to regain full fitness post their respective injuries.
Representing champions Mumbai Indians and runners-up Delhi Capitals in the recently concluded 13th season of the Indian Premier League, Rohit and Ishant had suffered from injuries which had restricted their participation in the IPL as well.
Rohit, who did play three matches towards the end of IPL 2020 and even scored a match-winning half-century in the final, is said to be some time away from regaining full fitness.
Now On now Off. Rohit Sharma’s ‘injury’ is the mystery of 2020. If @ImRo45 doesn’t go to Australia, India’s chances recede in the Test series #INDvsAUS
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 24, 2020
Ishant, on the other hand, is said to have regained full fitness but him not having any match practice especially before playing a Test match hasn’t worked in his favour.
Will Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma be available for the last two Test matches?
As of now, the chances of Rohit and Ishant boarding the plane to Australia seem minimal. Under normal circumstances, both the players might have made it for the third and fourth Test match in Australia.
However, the bio-bubble restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have it in them to hamper both the players’ chances of participating in this tour of Australia.
According to the sources in the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), Rohit will need time till the second week of December to attain full fitness. Upon reaching Australia, the 33-year old player will have to further quarantine himself for two weeks without training.
While all that can be done before the third match in Sydney from January 7, him straight away playing a Test match without any match practice doesn’t sound like a wise idea.
In Ishant’s case, he needs two weeks of mandatory quarantine and at least four weeks of bowling workload before playing a Test match. Ishant can take part in the series but only if he leaves for Australia immediately.
In the five Tests that Rohit has played in Australia, his 279 runs have come at an average of 31 including a couple of half-centuries. Ishant, on the other hand, has picked 31 wickets in 13 Tests down under at an average and strike rate of 48.54 and 87.9.
