Basil Thampi suffers knee injury in Ranji Trophy quarters

Kerala pacer Basil Thampi, who has been drafted into the Indian team for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka that starts in Cuttack on December 20, suffered a knee injury on day two of Kerala's Ranji Trophy quarter-final clash against Vidarbha in Surat.

During the 91st over of Vidarbha's first innings, Basil was backing up to collect a throw from his new ball partner Sandeep Warrier and got hit on his left knee. He was down writhing in pain and left the field immediately as a precaution after consulting with team physio.

His teammate M Nidheesh had to bowl the remaining two balls of the over. He bowled just 12.4 overs and ended with figures of 1-35. He then came out to bat for Kerala on day three as they were facing a herculean task to take the first innings lead. Basil couldn't help his team's cause as he got out for just 2 and Kerala gave away a 70-run first-innings lead to Vidarbha.

He opened the bowling along with Sandeep in Vidarbha's second innings but bowled just eight of the 147 overs bowled by Kerala in the second innings.

When Sportskeeda contacted, a source at the venue confirmed that Basil suffered an injury and the extent of the injury is not yet known. He also conceded that it didn't look serious and it is unlikely that there will be any threat on Basil's maiden international series.

Kerala are all but out of the Ranji Trophy as Vidarbha take a 577-run lead and set Sachin Baby and co. a target of 578 with just over two sessions left in the match. Kerala, who are playing their first ever Ranji Trophy quarter-final, are batting at 137/3 with Sachin and Salman Nazir batting on 63 and 26 respectively.