Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja arrived at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) in Bengaluru to complete his recovery process from the hamstring injury he suffered on Day 4 of India’s 28-run loss against England in the first of a 5-match test series. at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
Ravindra Jadeja informed the team management of slight hamstring discomfort after it hurt while completing a single before being run out by a tremendous one-handed fielding effort from England captain Ben Stokes.
As Jadeja walked from the center to the locker room, the pain in his hamstring was evident through his body language. As soon as he reported the same to the management, they sent him for the first round of scans in Hyderabad and after the reports came in, they were sent to an institute in Mumbai which declared that Jadeja would miss the second test in Vishakhapatnam, which starts from February 2nd.
The Mumbai institute reported that Ravindra Jadeja suffered a grade A hamstring injury, which basically occurs when the hamstring muscle suffers a minor pull or strain. It could have been worse if Jadeja had suffered a Grade B or C hamstring injury, but fortunately for him and the Indian team, the 35-year-old will only be out for the second Test.
The Saurashtra-born all-rounder was not the only one to leave Hyderabad with a loss as well as an injury. Right-handed batsman KL Rahul, who came in at No. 4 to replace Virat Kohli, also informed the team management about the quadriceps pain before being ruled out for the second Test.
The selection committee would immediately name 3 players: Washington Sundar, Sourabh Kumar and Sarfaraz Khan as replacement players for Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul. While it is quite clear that Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav will play in the XI, the team management has the imperative task of choosing between Rajat Patidar or Sarfaraz Khan for the number 4 spot.
Mr. Ravindra Jadeja and Mr. KL Rahul have been ruled out of the IDFC First Bank Second Test against England in Vizag, starting February 2, 2024. Jadeja suffered a hamstring injury during the game on “Day 4 of the first Test in Hyderabad, while Rahul complained of right quadriceps pain. The BCCI medical team is monitoring the duo’s progress.” – reads a BCCI press release.
As Ravindra Jadeja embarks on the road to recovery, the onus is on Indian selectors to choose the right replacement
Ravindra Jadeja took to Instagram and uploaded a photo of the NCA poster on his story to let everyone know that he is on the road to recovery. While he toils away at the National Cricket Academy, the management led by Rahul Dravid along with captain Rohit Sharma will be sweating to choose the most suitable replacement for Jadeja.
The equal will be Washington Sundar, an all-rounder who dominates both the bat and the ball. And if India look to add some wrist spin against England in the second Test, then Kuldeep Yadav becomes the first choice. In any case, the quality of the left-hander cannot be matched and it remains to be seen how India defends itself after these setbacks.