Even before the first ball of the upcoming Test series against Australia has been bowled, India are one down, with promising opener Prithvi Shaw being ruled out of the first Test with an ankle injury.
Prithvi suffered the injury during the ongoing warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI, in Sydney on Friday.
A Board of Control for Cricket in India media release said: “Opening batsman Prithvi Shaw suffered a left ankle injury while attempting a catch at the boundary ropes in the tour game against CA XI at The Sydney Cricket Ground.
“Shaw underwent scans this morning and the reports revealed a lateral ligament injury. Shaw will be unavailable for the First Test against Australia in Adelaide. He will undergo an intensive rehabilitation program to hasten the recovery and be available for selection at the earliest.”
Prithvi’s injury is a massive setback for the visitors as the 19-year-old was expected to open in the first Test, beginning December 6 at Adelaide.
Now that he is unavailable, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay are likely to be the openers for India in the first Test.
Prithvi picked up the injury in the 15th over of Cricket Australia XI’s innings, when Max Bryant hit Ravichandran Ashwin for a six over midwicket. Prithvi managed to get under the ball and catch it, but spilled the chance while tumbling over the ropes. In the process, he injured his ankle.
Prithvi was visibly in pain and didn’t get up immediately. He was carried off the field by two members of the Indian support staff, so that he didn’t put any further pressure on his ankle.
Prithvi had scored a hundred on Test debut in the home series against the West Indies last month, raising greater expectations from the batting sensation. The buzz around the talented batsman has only grown louder since he landed in Australia. Recently, the BCCI took to Twitter to post a video of Prithvi, showcasing his wide fan-following in Australia.
The BCCI tweet read: “Young @PrithviShaw already managing to grab eyeballs here in Australia. Fans throng at The SCG for a selfie and autograph from the rising Star of #TeamIndia.”
India’s batting coach Sanjay Bangar feels that his clear mindset and fearlessness helps him play an aggressive brand of cricket.
“He plays with a lot of clarity and what is impressive about him is he gets into good positions. That clarity of mind and fearlessness of youth probably helps him quite a bit.
Bangar added: “In whichever format that he’s played, he’s made a mark straightaway. Be it the various formats of first-class cricket in India… the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy or India A, wherever he has played he as shown he could adapt to the conditions pretty well.”
Prithvi was among the five Indian batsmen who struck fifties before the visitors were bowled out for 358 on the second day of the rain-hit practice game against Cricket Australia XI. Prithvi made a fluent 66.
He punched the ball off his back foot with style and unleashed some crunching cover and on drives, before he got bowled round his legs by Daniel Fallins. He hit a total of 11 boundaries during his stay at the crease.
On Friday, the last day of the practice match, it was a largely frustrating outing for most of the India bowlers. Cricket Australia XI were 356 for six in 102 overs at stumps.
Opener D’Arcy Short top-scored for the hosts with 74 runs off 91 balls, inclusive of 11 fours. Max Bryant (62), Harry Nielsen (56 not out) and Aaron Hardie (69 not out) were the others to score half-centuries. Mohammed Shami took three wickets.
