Indian pacer Mohammad Shami had been ruled out of the ongoing Test series in Australia with a fractured arm. India have suffered yet another blow as their senior most pacer Mohmmed Shami has been ruled out of the remaining 3 Tests after suffering a fracture in the Adelaide Test on Saturday. The scans reports have confirmed the same. This comes after India were handed a 8-wicket defeat by Australia in the opening match of the series.The pacer was hit by a Pat Cummins delivery during the Adelaide Test on Saturday. The team’s medical staff rushed in to his aid during the match and after some deliberation, Shami decided to walk back to the dressing room ending the visitors’ innings in 21.2 overs.
After the physiotherapist applied, what looked like, a painkilling spray, Shami tried to resume batting but he didn’t seem comfortable and decided against continuing. India skipper Virat Kohli had earlier spoken about how Shami was in pain and scans were conducted to check the extent of the injury. “No news on Shami, he is going for a scan now. Was in a lot of pain, could not even lift his arm. We will probably know in the evening what happens,” he had said at the post-match press conference. ” He is a class-bowler and he showed this in the game. So India might have to dig deeper in their arsenal to try and cover and him but we probably expect him to play, I am not sure how bad the injury is,” Kohli added. “Mohammed Shami has a fracture and the chances of him taking part in the remaining three Test matches is next to nil,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. The injury to Shami is a huge blow for India, who will be without their original captain Kohli for the rest of the series. Kohli will be returning home for the birth of his first child.
India are also without Ishant Sharma for the tour due to fitness reasons. It means India will be heavily reliant on Jasprit Bumrah, with Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj the other pace options. Saini and Siraj are yet to play Test cricket. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are the other bowling options among ones in the squad.