Reports: Ravindra Jadeja could be ruled out of World Cup 2015 due to shoulder injury

Ravindra Jadeja

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is in danger of not making it to the World Cup 2015 15-man squad, which is to be announced on January 6. If reports are to be believed, the shoulder injury that the 26-year-old sustained during the ongoing Australia-India Test series is likely to rule him out of action for 6-7 weeks.

After being sent home from Australia in December, Jadeja has been working with physio Nitin Patel and trainer Rajinikant for the last one week at the SRMC Campus in Porur near Chennai. The recovery, however, hasn’t been satisfactory.

It is understood that the BCCI will enquire the ICC about the replacement policy, and if Jadeja can be replaced at the last minute in case of him still not being fit, he will be named in the final squad. However, even in the best case scenario, the left-arm spinner would hardly have any match practice, and it remains to be seen if the team management is willing to take the gamble in a tournament as big as the World Cup.

Yuvraj Singh expected to replace Jadeja

If the national selectors choose to leave Jadeja out, Yuvraj Singh, who has shown signs of form in the domestic circuit hitting hat-trick of centuries, comes into the fray.

An ABPlive report quotes a BCCI official as saying, “It's actually difficult to leave out someone like Jadeja for the World Cup. But then, you just can't pick an injured cricketer either.

The source added: "If Jadeja is not completely fit, then Yuvraj could come in handy for India. With both possessing an attacking style of game, selectors might zero in on Yuvraj as the back-up."

The Indian squad for the tri-series involving Australia and England will also be announced on January 6.