India’s five-match Test series against England will begin in Hyderabad on January 25. In the coming days, the BCCI selection committee, led by former bowler Ajit Agarkar, is expected to reveal the Indian team for the forthcoming red-ball series.
But Ruturaj Gaikwad has caused a setback for India ahead of the commencement of the home series. The great batsman is expected to miss the first two Test matches against England after sustaining a finger injury during the second ODI against South Africa on December 19, 2023.
Gaikwad’s injury kept him out of the South African Test series, and he will now miss the Tests against the Poms in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. The Times of India reported that the opening batsman, who is 26 years old, should recover in time for the third Test, which begins in Rajkot on February 15.
Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of IND vs ENG Tests
The Indian cricket player Ruturaj Gaikwad will miss the first several Test matches against England. It was revealed on Monday, January 8, that Mohammed Shami, the pacer, will also be ineligible to play in the first two matches. Similar to Gaikwad, Shami was selected for the Test series against South Africa but was subsequently excluded.
For the two-match Test series against the West Indies in July 2023, Ruturaj Gaikwad received his first call-up to the Indian team, although he was not allowed to play.
Also Read: Riyan Parag Slaps Ajit Agarkar With Career-Defining Knock vs Chhattisgarh In Ranji Trophy 2024
Bengal batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran was added to India’s Test team as a backup opener against South Africa and the India team in place of Gaikwad. It is anticipated that a captain will be called up for the opening two Test matches against England once more.
In Test matches, India’s first-choice opening batsmen are Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma. On July 12, 2023, the 22-year-old Jaiswal made his Test debut for India against the West Indies at Roseau. He struck 171 runs in his opening innings to become the first opener from India to reach 100 runs in a Test outside of India.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad is recovering at the National Cricket Academy and should be fit after a week or 10 days. He will subsequently be available for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy. He is likely to be available for selection after the second Test of the series,” a source was quoted as saying by TOI.
