New Delhi: Team India have been dealt with an injury scare ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as skipper Rohit Sharma took a blow to his knee while batting in the nets. Rohit was hit on his left knee while facing India’s throwdown specialist Daya during the team’s practice session at the MCG on Sunday.
Rohit was spotted getting attended by the team’s physio after getting hit on his left knee. The physio placed an ice pack on the Indian skipper’s injured knee with pain clearly visible on Rohit’s face in pictures that surfaced on social media. The injury scare has raised concerns regarding his participation in the Boxing Day Test match against Australia in Sydney.
Rohit has been batting in the middle order for India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 due to KL Rahul’s fine form at the top. Though he has been far from his best in the series so far with low returns in the two Test matches that he has played, his absence will be a big blow for the visitors as they will be significantly short on experience in their batting line-up.
3 potential contenders to replace Rohit if he is ruled out of 4th Test:
1) Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel can be an ideal replacement for Rohit in the middle order for India if the skipper is ruled out of the Boxing Day Test in Sydney. Jurel has done well for India in his short Test career and has already proven his mettle in the longest format. He did play the series opener in Perth where he failed to make an impact and was dismissed cheaply on 11 and 1 in the two innings.
However, Jurel had slammed back-to-back half-centuries for India A in their practice match against Australia A. He can be included in the XI as a specialist batter to cover for Rohit if the Indian skipper is declared unfit for the Boxing Dat Test.
2) Devdutt Padikkal
Talented left-hander Devdutt Padikkal can also be a reliable option for India if Rohit misses the 4th Test due to his injury. Padikkal bats in the top order but can be used in the middle order as well. Padikkal was part of the XI for the 1st Test in Perth in the absence of Rohit and Shubman Gill. However, he could score only 25 runs in the two innings combined and failed to impress.
3) Sarfaraz Khan
India also have Sarfaraz Khan in their squad and the prolific right-hander can be called as a cover for Rohit if the Indian skipper fails to make the cut for the 4th Test. Sarfaraz has done well for India in Tests in home conditions, however, he is yet to prove himself overseas. While he is unlikely to be on top of the pecking order to replace Rohit in the middle, India can take a punt on Sarfaraz in the Boxing Day Test where the conditions are expected to be batting friendly.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was hit on his left knee while batting in the nets during the team’s practice session at the Meblourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. He is in doubt for the 4th Test against Australia at the MCG. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
