Injury roundup: India’s key injured players and the latest update on their availability

India have been struggling with the injuries of some of their key players over the last twelve to eighteen months. There has hardly been a game in this duration where the Men in Blue have been able to field their strongest XI.

While they have still managed to be very consistent in all formats of the game as the young players have stepped up to the plate in the absence of the seniors, India would like to have their senior players fit and available as soon as possible, given the fact that a lot of cricket needs to be played in the next year or so.

Let’s have a look at the current status of the injured Indian players.

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#1 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan has missed out on a number of games since the ODI World Cup last year. He first sustained a finger injury opening the batting for India in the World Cup and got ruled out of the event altogether.

The left-hander, thereafter, injured his knee playing for Delhi at the start of the Indian domestic season and then, when he came back to play for India earlier this year, he injured his shoulder while diving on the field in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia.

As per a statement released by the BCCI, Dhawan has suffered a grade II injury in the acromioclavicular joint of his shoulder and will start training soon at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). BCCI commented on his situation:

An MRI of his (Shikhar Dhawan’s) shoulder was conducted, and the results have confirmed a grade II injury of his acromioclavicular joint. His hand will be in a sling and he has been advised rest for some time. He will start his active rehab management in the first week of February.

#2 Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya hasn’t played any cricket for India in the last four months. His last appearance for India was on September 22, 2019, in a T20I against South Africa.

Pandya has been troubled by his back for a long time and he underwent surgery last year to get rid of the problem. Although he has recovered from the surgery and started training about a month back, he is still not “match fit” and has not been brought back into the Indian team.

Pandya was named in India A squad for the tour of New Zealand, but he was withdrawn from the squad at the last minute as his trainer said he was not “bowling fit” and needed to bowl a lot more before going into an international game.

When the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was asked about the status of Pandya’s fitness on Monday, he said it would take the all-rounder a bit more time to return to action. “Pandya is not fit yet. He is getting treated at the NCA. He will take time to get fit," Ganguly was quoted as saying by IANS.

#3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was a part of the Indian squad for the T20I series against West Indies which took place earlier during India’s home season, but he was ruled of the ODI series thereafter because of “sports hernia”.

As happens in most of the cases of sports hernia, Bhuvneshwar also had to undergo surgery in London earlier this month.

The BCCI released a statement after the surgery that the swing bowler would make his way to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after returning from London to start his rehabilitation. The board has, however, not put any timeframe on Bhuvneshwar’s recovery and there is no certainty at the moment as to when the 29-year old is likely to get back on the field. Their statement read:

Fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar traveled to London on 9th January and underwent a successful sports hernia surgery on 11th January. He was assisted by Team India physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar. Bhuvneshwar will now return to India and commence his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

#4 Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma has been one of the main bowlers for India in Test match cricket in the last couple of years and he was a certainty to be picked in the squad for the series against New Zealand. Unfortunately, he damaged his ankle while bowling for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy game against Vidarbha.

The 31-year old was taken for the MRI scan immediately which showed that it was a “tear”. Ishant will now have to stay away from the action for a period of six weeks, which means he will not be able to take part in the Test series against New Zealand next month.

Providing an update on Ishant’s injury, the DDCA secretary Vinod Tihara told PTI:

Ishant Sharma's MRI report shows a Grade 3 ankle tear and it is serious. He has been advised six weeks of rest and rehabilitation. It is indeed a big blow.

Ishant is not in India’s plans in white ball cricket currently and features regularly for Delhi in domestic cricket to keep himself match fit whenever India are not playing Test matches,. However, the BCCI would have probably preferred for him to rest and not play in the Ranji Trophy ahead of the very important New Zealand tour.