Mandeep Singh confirmed to miss India A tour of South Africa

Indian batsman Mandeep Singh, who was rehabbing at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore from an injured back to regain match fitness ahead of the India ‘A’ tour to South Africa is now set to miss the series with his pain resurfacing again. Mandeep was supposed to fly to South Africa a for a bilateral ODI series from July 26. The Punjabi cricketer was nursing under physiotherapist Andrew Leipus.

Towards the end of IPL 10, Mandeep experienced pain in his back. Following an MRI scan, Mandeep was diagnosed with a disc prolapse in his lower back. He was however not so keen to go under the knife and chose rest and rehabilitation. India team physiotherapist Patrick Farhat also felt that surgery could be avoided and the back could be treated with rest and strengthening. But now, since the pains have intensified, the Jalandhar-born cricketer has been advised surgery.

A press release earlier today quoted Mandeep as saying, “It is disappointing to lose out. I was at rehab at the NCA and was feeling better. I played a practice game and then the pain intensified.”

Australia pulls out of the series

The 25-year-old batsman was named by selectors in the Manish Pandey-led India A side that traveled to South Africa. The series was initially supposed to be a triangular one, involving South Africa and Australia. However, Australia pulled out of the series due to pay disputes between the Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketer’s Association (ACA).

Speaking to Hindustan Times earlier this month, the right hander said, “The word surgery rang alarm bells. I was already upset with the IPL performance and the niggling pain in the back made me more upset. I never felt so low in my career. I underwent a mid-career crisis in a way. When I came to the NCA, I was told the back could be treated with rest and strengthening. Knowing this, my motivation came back.”