IND vs AUS: Peter Handscomb suffers hip injury to worsen Australia's injury concerns

Australian batter Peter Handscomb will be desperately hoping that he recovers just in time ahead of the four-match away Test series against India, starting February 9. Handscomb has a task at hand related to his fitness as he is currently nursing a hip injury, which was confirmed following scans on Friday. 

The Aussie middle-order sensation suffered the injury while he attempted to play a pull shot in cricket club in Victoria earlier this week. However, he did not feel the pain immediately and continued batting but after three deliveries the 31-year-old collapsed in agony after attempting yet another pull shot.

Handscomb had to leave the field instantly for medical attention and the scans revealed that the batter suffered a soft-tissue damage in his right hip.

"Scans have since confirmed soft-tissue damage in his right hip," Cricket Australia said in a statement. 

"Officials are confident Handscomb will be fit to leave with the Australian team later this month for the Qantas tour of India,” it added. 

Peter Handscomb add to Australia's injury concerns 

Handscomb has not played a Test match for Australia since 2019 and would be looking to regain his red-ball spot by showcasing consistent performances in the upcoming India tour. He was a part of the Aussie playing XI during their previous visit to the country in the 2016/17 season.

Meanwhile, with hardly a month left for the all-important India tour, some injury concerns to their key players have left the Australian camp in a spot of bother. Apart from Handscomb, pace spearhead Mitchell Starc and emerging all-rounder Cameron Green are nursing their finger injuries.

The veteran will miss the series opener in Nagpur but will be joining the Australian squad for the remainder of the series.

Australia drew first blood with a comprehensive 333-run victory on a dustbowl in Pune. Nonetheless, they lost the plot from a position of strength and were outplayed by India in Bengaluru and Dharamsala to concede the series 1-2.