Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma out of India Test side to face Australia
Sunday 16 December 2018 07:37, UK
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and batsman Rohit Sharma have been ruled out by India for Friday's second Test against Australia.
Also missing, as expected, will be young opener Prithvi Shaw, who was not considered for the opening Test in Adelaide after suffering ligament damage in a warm-up match.
"Ravi Ashwin has a left-sided abdominal strain. He is receiving treatment at the moment. He has been ruled out of the second Test," India's governing body, the BCCI, said.
"Rohit Sharma jarred his lower back while fielding in the first Test at Adelaide. He is undergoing treatment, he too is ruled out of the second Test."
The BCCI added that Shaw was "recovering well" but still undergoing treatment.
Ashwin took six wickets in the first Test, which India won by 31 runs, while Sharma hit 37 and one.
India named a 13-man team for the Test starting Friday, which is set to be played on a fast and bouncy Perth Stadium wicket.
However, India captain Virat Kohli was upbeat about India's prospects in the inaugural Test at the new Perth Stadium, which has replaced the WACA Ground as the city's premier cricket venue.
"We are definitely confident of the percentage of chances we have and we want to build on that," said Kohli before the injury problems were announced.
"Obviously Australia is going to be a strong team in their home conditions and on a wicket like Perth, which probably offers you more than most other pitches in Australia. But we have an equal chance.
"We certainly get more excited than nervous looking at lively pitches now because we understand that we do have a bowling attack that can bowl the opposition out as much as they are confident about their attack," he said.
All-rounder Hanuma Vihari is expected to slot in for Sharma, with the final spot between pacemen Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav or Ravindra Jadeja, who has taken 185 Test wickets with his left-arm spin and also averages 32.44 with the bat.
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav
