Australia vs India: Rohit Sharma and Ravi Ashwin ruled out of the Perth Test

Team India bagged a 31-run victory in the Adelaide Test against the Kangaroos. With the victory, the No. 1 Test side took 1-0 lead in the first Test of a series for the first time in Australia. However, all is not well for the visitors after the successful outing in the first Test. There are quite a few injury issues for the Kohli-led team ahead of the upcoming Perth Test, starting from 14th of December.

According to BCCI media release, Rohit Sharma and Ravi Ashwin are currently nursing injuries and are ruled out of the encounter at the new Perth stadium. Rohit jarred his lower back while fielding in the Adelaide Test and is deemed unfit for the upcoming game. Whereas Ravi Ashwin has a left abdominal strain and is receiving the treatment.

The Indian team management also confirmed that Prithvi Shaw is recovering well from his ankle injury but ruled out of the second Test. All three players are most likely to make their comeback for the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is also referred as Boxing Day Test, starting from 26th of December. However, the team management will take a call on their participation at the MCG in the meantime.

Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari, Bhuvneshwar Kumar are named in the 13-man squad for the game in the place of ruled out duo. It’s highly likely that Vihari is going to take Rohit Sharma’s place and Ravindra Jadeja to seal Ravi Ashwin’s spot in the playing XI. However, it’s quite tough to read Virat Kohli’s mind and have to wait till the toss to finalize the playing XI.

Team India’s 13-man squad for the second Test against Australia

Virat Kohli (c), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Pujara, Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav

More to follow…