KL Rahul has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests between India and Australia in Sydney and Brisbane after suffering a wrist injury during practice. In a statement released by the BCCI, it said, "KL Rahul sprained his left wrist while batting in the nets at the MCG during Team India’s practice session on Saturday. The wicketkeeper-batsman will not be available for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he will need about three weeks time to recover completely and regain full strength. He will now return to India and head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further rehabilitation of his injury."
KL Rahul is the third major casualty of the Indian cricket team due to injury in the current tour of Australia. Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the series after suffering a blow on the hand while trying to duck a bouncer from Pat Cummins in the Adelaide Test. Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the Australia tour after he had failed to recover significantly from the injury which he sustained in IPL 2020. Umesh Yadav suffered a left calf strain during the Melbourne Test and that has ruled him out for the Sydney and Brisbane Tests. In addition, India are without the services of Virat Kohli who is on paternity leave as he is expecting the birth of his child anytime soon.
The injury to KL Rahul will mean that Mayank Agarwal is likely to occupy the opening position for both the Tests after poor returns in the Adelaide and Melbourne Tests. However, Mayank Agarwal will mostly be partnered by either Shubman Gill or Rohit Sharma for the Sydney Test. Rohit Sharma regained full fitness and completed his quarantine period and he is available for selection in the Sydney Test. The four-match series is currently level 1-1.
India bounce back in style
The Indian cricket team bounced back in grand style after being bowled out for 36 in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide. The score was India's lowest in their 88-year history and there was plenty of criticism. However, under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, India bounced back in grand style in the Melbourne Test. With calm captaincy and wonderful proactiveness, Ajinkya Rahane helped India eliminate the scars of the Adelaide horror in grand style. Ajinkya Rahane also scored his 2nd century in Melbourne as he redefined leading from the front.
The third Test in Sydney will begin on January 7 and there are doubts over the Brisbane Test as the Indian cricket team have reportedly expressed reservations on the stricter quarantine rules in Queensland as they have already served their mandatory 14-day quarantine in the country when they arrived in Sydney in November.
