Multiple reports suggest India skipper Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the second Test against Bangladesh to be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, having not yet recovered from a thumb injury which he had sustained while attempting a catch in the slips during the second of three ODIs in Mirpur earlier this month.
The 35-year-old had walked out to bat late in India’s chase and scored a fighting 51* off 28, with the visitors falling five short of the 272-run target. Rohit was flown back home soon after with the aim for him to get fit by the second Test, but the scans thereafter revealed a dislocation which needed stitches.
“Rohit’s injury is healing well, but is still deemed risky given the volume of cricket India are due to play over the next two months. He is likely to undergo a medical assessment next week,”
ESPNCricinfo reports.
India will host New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia in a packed home season between January and March, before the IPL 2023 gets underway in April. India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs each against the Sri Lankans and the Kiwis, respectively. They will then host Australia for a four-match Border-Gavaskar Test series, followed by three ODIs.
As for the ongoing series, KL Rahul will lead India in the second Test too, with the visitors currently leading the two-match series 1-0 following their 188-run win in Chattogram in the opening Test.
Team India are currently placed second in the ongoing World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle, with a point percentage (PCT) of 55.77%, in a table led by the Aussies with 76.92%.
