Prithvi Shaw in doubt for the upcoming West Indies Test series

As the World Cup 2019 came to a close and England were crowned as the newest World Champions, the focus now shifts to other series and the start of the ICC’s ambitious World Test Championship, which begins with Australia taking on the newest World Champs in the 5-day format, The Ashes. On the other hand, semi-finalists India will take on West Indies in August as a part of the same Championship.

India lost to New Zealand by a hair’s distance in the first semi-final and were knocked out despite being the no.1 ranked ODI team at the time and also the favourites to lift the title. Now the Men in Blue will travel to the Caribbean to play three T20Is and three ODIs and two Tests next month. However, Prithvi Shaw, who had made his Test debut against the same team last year at home, might not travel with the team.

Shaw not a 100% fit for Caribbean series

Opener Shaw had a very amazing debut for India in Tests, slamming a century under 100 balls against West Indies at Rajkot and then got another fifty in the next Test as India romped home rather comfortably in both Tests. He was then taken to Australia as well for the four-Test series, but injured his ankle in a practice game and was ruled out of the historic series, which India won.

Now it has come to light that Shaw, might not be going to West Indies. “I’m not a 100% fit and don’t know exactly how much it will take, the process is going on and I’m working with the physios to get back to fitness but can’t put a timeline on it right now,” Shaw was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Notably, he had injured his hip in the final of the Mumbai T20 League and is yet to gain 100% fitness, as he admitted. Though he has enough time to get ready for the Test series, as it starts with limited-overs matches first; but it seems, Shaw is in no hurry to make a return. Shaw signed off by saying, “Yes, there is time so I can’t make a comment on that and we’ll see how it goes.”

This means that India might recall either Murali Vijay or Shikhar Dhawan for the series if Shaw fails to get fit in time.