India vs Windies: Shardul Thakur limps off the field with groin injury on Test debut

Pace bowler Shardul Thakur became India’s fourth debutant in Tests in five matches when he took the ground against the Windies at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. However, he proved to be the most unlucky of all the starters as he had to leave the field while bowling just his second over because of a groin pain. Earlier, Windies’ captain Jason Holder won the toss and elected to bat.

The 26-year-old right-arm medium bowler seemed to have landed himself oddly and felt the pain instantly. Physio Patrick Farhat rushed to the ground to check the injury as Thakur kept hobbling. It didn’t look that Thakur required an immediate treatment. Captain Virat Kohli was seen joining the conversation that the physio had with Thakur and soon, the bowler walked off the ground.

It was not too long ago that Thakur was presented his Test cap by head coach Ravi Shastri and he was seen kissing the India crest. Thakur is the 294th Test player for India and replaced Mohammad Shami in this Test. Shami, according to Kohli, was rested after playing six consecutive matches in the longer version.

Thakur had a similar experience during Asia Cup

Thakur, who made his international debut in 2017, has played five ODIs and seven T20Is so far with 14 international wickets. He was in the Indian squad for Asia Cup held last month but missed out the tournament after playing the first game against Hong Kong after feeling soreness in the right hip-groin area. He played a game in the Vijay Hazare Trophy thereafter and also performed well but it seems he has now aggravated the injury.

Thakur, who plays for Mumbai, made his first-class debut in 2012 and has taken 188 wickets in 55 matches so far. He also has five fifties in first-class cricket with the highest score of 87.

India recently have seen a number of youngsters earning the Test cap. While wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant and batsman Hanuma Vihari played their maiden Tests in the England series that ended last month, teenage sensation Prithvi Shaw made his first appearance in the longer format in the first Test against the Windies and slammed a hundred as the youngest Indian debutant.

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