Ravindra Jadeja might be ruled out of South Africa tour with ligament tear, Axar Patel also uncertain
Ravindra Jadeja has been India's premier allrounder in overseas test matches
The Indian test squad for the South Africa tour was expected to be announced yesterday, but because of the uncertainty over the fitness status of a few players, it was delayed for a day. Ravindra Jadeja, the premier allrounder of the Indian Test side, might not be fit for the tour at all because of the forearm injury he sustained in the first test match against New Zealand in Kanpur.
Jadeja, while fielding at mid-off, injured himself in Kanpur and although he took further part in the game and even grabbed a 4-wicket haul in the second innings, he was left out of the playing XI for the Mumbai test. Initially, it was believed to be a minor swelling in the forearm, however, the reports are emerging now that the allrounder actually has a ligament tear and the period of recovery might be more than 2 months.
It has also been reported that Jadeja might have to undergo surgery and if that’s the case, it will only delay his comeback and he might actually be able to come back only in the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is expected to start in the first week of April next year.
Shubman Gill and Axar Patel might also not be available for the South Africa tour
The other players who are injured at the moment are Axar Patel and Shubman Gill. While India has got enough cover for Gill if he doesn’t get fit, Axar Patel’s availability is key for India with Jadeja likely to be ruled out of the tour. Axar has sustained a stress fracture and might need a few weeks of recovery before getting back into action.
India had used Ravindra Jadeja in the Ravindra Jadeja might be ruled out of South Africa tour with ligament tear, Axar Patel also uncertaintop 7 with the bat and as their sole specialist spinner on the England tour, which had allowed the team to play 4 fast bowlers. With him not being there now and the possibility of Axar being unavailable as well, India might have to play Ravichandran Ashwin or Shardul Thakur at no. 7 on South Africa tour.
