Team India’s injury count is on a continuous rise even before the series began as limited-overs skipper and Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma sustained a left hamstring injury and consequently was ruled out of the three-match Test series against South Africa, starting December 26 in Centurion. Not just hamstring, the star opening batsman was also hit on his hand during the net sessions while taking throwdowns.
Rohit’s name has been added to the list of injuries which already has opener Shubman Gill and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who won’t be travelling to the Rainbow nation.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra expressed his concern on the same saying that Rohit’s injury has landed a body blow to India’s chances in South Africa, where they are yet to win a Test series.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Ravindra Jadeja unavailable, Axar Patel unavailable, Rahul Chahar unavailable, you don’t have Shubman Gill and now they are saying that Rohit Sharma is also not there. I mean what is happening? Should we cancel the South Africa tour?
“Rohit Sharma is going to be a huge miss. If his tour is in doubt, India’s chances are looking in doubt because who was your best Test batter in 2021. Why did you do well in England – Rohit was there with Rahul. Rohit has started loving Test cricket and he is enjoying leaving or defending,” the cricketer-turned commentator added.
Although Gujarat opener Priyank Panchal has been added to the Test squad, Chopra said that lack of openers will be a major concern for the visitors as they only have two experienced openers only in Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul, who according to him will be the vice-captain now.
“We were saying that it has become a story of four or five openers and here Mayank Agarwal has become the second opener and KL Rahul the first. And we have reached the stage when Mayank Agarwal made his debut, in a space of few weeks. The Indian team becomes significantly weak,” Chopra further added.
