India were dealt a big blow on Friday with young opening batsman Prithvi Shaw being ruled out of the first Test against Australia due to an ankle injury he sustained in the ongoing warm up game against Cricket Australia XI.
The youngster injured himself on the third day of the tour match as he attempted to take a catch on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Getting into position to claim the catch of Max Bryant, Shaw went over his ankle as he tried to keep himself inside the boundary ropes at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The 19-year-old was immediately attended to by the Indian team’s physio before being taken off the field in visible pain. Shaw was rushed to the hospital for scans and later returned to the stadium on crutches.
“Shaw underwent scans this morning and the reports revealed a lateral ligament injury,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“Shaw will be unavailable for the first Test against Australia in Adelaide.
UPDATE: Prithvi Shaw ruled out of first Test against Australia in Adelaide. Full details here ---> https://t.co/bKZRSodVyR pic.twitter.com/gqFWUJKxNf
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 30, 2018
“He will undergo an intensive rehabilitation program to hasten the recovery and be available for selection at the earliest.”
The Mumbai-born teenager was a certainty to open for India in the first Test at Adelaide which gets underway on December 6. The right-hander will also face a race against time to get fit for the second Test of the series which starts at Perth on December 14.
With his injury, India could open with Murali Vijay and KL Rahul at the Adelaide Oval. The BCCI is yet to announce a replacement for the youngster but Shikhar Dhawan and the uncapped Mayan Agarwal could be in the fray should they decide to do so.
