India‘s Wriddhiman Saha could be out of action for longer than expected after it was reported that the wicketkeeper is nursing a shoulder injury which could require surgery.
Saha was not picked in India’s squad for the first three Tests against England due to his injury setback, with Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant named as the wicketkeeping options.
Saha had earlier been sidelined with a thumb injury he sustained in the IPL while playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and subsequently missed the one-off Test against Afghanistan.
According to a report by the DNA, the Bengal wicketkeeper has been carrying a shoulder injury for a few months now and it was aggravated during his recent rehabilitation stint at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
“This is a bizarre case where none of the selectors were aware of the real cause of his (Saha) injury when the team was picked for the first three Tests,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by DNA.
“He has a serious shoulder injury and whether or not he needs a surgery would be decided in a week’s time after a few more medical scans,” the official added.
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) July 19, 2018
The wicketkeeper’s injury woes have come to the surface of late with various reports laying the blame on the NCA’s doorsteps. For a long time it was believed that Saha was recuperating from his thumb injury, with the news about his shoulder only emerging days before the selection of India’s Test squad.
Saha’s team has taken to Twitter in light of the recent speculation.
“Yes! Wriddhi is physically unwell and may not be there in the upcoming England Test series. We are going through a bad phase and crisis, ” a statement read on the social media site.
“Thanks to all the fans, well wishers and people who are there beside us during the time of injury. Injury is not in anyone’s hand and to the people who are making astrological conclusions right now regarding his future cricket, (we) would suggest, learn to wish (for) someone’s recovery (rather) than predicting future!
“Have some respect for someone who has got injured playing for the country.”
