Having lost the likes of Praveen Kumar, Varun Aaron and Sreesanth, Team India seems to be on the verge of losing Ishant Sharma as well for the Australian Test Series! As such there are enough doubts about whether Zaheer Khan would be fully fit or put the team in big trouble by leaving midway like how did on the disastrous England tour. India without Zaheer and Ishant would struggle as the rest of the pacers are just rookies!
Well Ishant had previously hurt his ankle during the England tour and he was supposed to undergo a surgery which never happened. His ankle seemed to be holding up nicely until the tour game against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI where he bowled just 5.3 overs and was mostly out of the ground.
It is learnt that Ishant has shown his troubled left ankle to a doctor in Australia and that he has received Cortisone injection for the same. The lanky fast bowler has been advised a couple of days rest which rules him out of the second and final warm-up game at Canberra ahead of the Boxing Day Test Match at MCG. The only hope for India is that there is one full week to go for the first Test which could give enough time for Ishant to make a speedy recover. The Team Management could also decide in calling up a replacement or rather an extra player as cover for Ishant.
- BV Swagath
