Indian Cricket Team News : Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar Face Injury Scares: Indian contingent hit with injury scares to Vijay Shankar and Shikhar Dhawan during practice session in London
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Indian Team At The ICC CWC 2019
Ever since the Indian cricket team touched down in London for the upcoming ODI Cricket World Cup, the Asian power packed side have taken no time in getting preparations underway for the tournament. The entire squad under the tutelage of coaches Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun and Sanjay Bangar have been sweating it out in hectic practice sessions just 24 hours after reaching the host country, England.
As visuals emerged of the Indian side putting in the long hours and indulging in draining practice sessions, exercises, games of football and hockey along with working on key components in the batting and bowling department, latest developments don’t paint a good picture. The team has been reeled back by two of its main players getting injured during a batting session.
Vijay Shankar Suffers Injury While Batting
As per reports emerging, Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar was hit on his right hand while he was undergoing a bating session at the Kennington Oval in preparation for India’s warm-up match against New Zealand on Saturday. Bystanders who were spectating on the Indian side partaking in these sessions say that Shankar walked straight away after being dealt the blow.
While the magnitude of Shankar’s injury is yet to be ascertained with no official statement on the injury by the BCCI, the team management will be wishing it’s nothing serious. Vijay Shankar is no stranger to freak injuries out of which he has only recently managed to recuperate from. He was hit by a slew of injuries in 2018 with a blow to his shoulder while batting in a domestic game followed up with a tendon injury to his knee which he sustained while slipping during bowling.
The constant spate of injuries almost threatened to end Shankar’s international career before he recuperated in mid 2018 to come and play once again at the domestic level before which he was subsequently picked up by the selectors and team management for the World Cup. While Shankar’s selection for the number 4 spot has become a bone of contention among Indian supporters, the team management decided to give him a go ahead based on his ability to contribute with the ball as well.
“After the 2017 Champions Trophy, we tried a lot of middle-order batsmen which included the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey. Vijay offered us three dimensions — he might bowl a bit and is fantastic fielder. He is a batman who might bowl a bit. We are looking at him for the No. 4 position,” said the BCCI on Shankar’s selection.
Shikhar Dhawan Hit On The Helmet
In another development emerging from the side, opener Shikhar Dhawan was hit on the helmet while batting. Facing up to a short bowl that was sent down his way by batting coach Sanjay Bangar, Shikhar Dhawan failed to get under it with the ball eventually going to rack into his helmet. While the injury is supposed to be nothing of concern, Dhawan walked away straightaway after the blow as a precautionary measure with Pattrick Farhat attending to him. The point of impact is said to be on the grill with Dhawan getting knackered on his lips and jaw.
