Ishant Sharma’s MRI scans to determine his fate for New Zealand tour after ankle sprain while appealing

Ishant Sharma, India’s most experienced Test bowler, has become uncertain for the tour of New Zealand. The 31-year-old managed to injure his ankle during Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Interestingly, he developed the injury while appealing on his follow through. The speedster then went off the park with the help of the support staff.

He walked off midway through his over and Kulwant Khejroliya had to complete it. Talking about the injury, a Delhi support staff said that it didn’t look good to the naked eye. Such was Ishant’s condition that he found it tough to place his foot on the ground. The results of the MRI scan are currently awaited after which the gravity of the injury can be perceived.

Ishant Sharma in trouble

“There was a huge swelling on his ankle and he could not place his foot on the floor. But we need to get the scan result to verify the extent of the injury, the course of the tournament and how long it would take to heal,” the staff was quoted as saying in Indian Express.

If Ishant’s injury turns out to be a fracture, then it would take longer to heal. It also means that the speedster may find it hard to recover before the Test series, starting February 21 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

“If it’s a minor rupture, it would take just a couple of weeks. A fracture or a tear will take longer to heal. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” he stated.

The Delhi staff also said that Ishant won’t be returning to bowl in the Vidarbha game even if the doctors give him a green signal. It means that he is effectively out of the game “There is no question of him bowling in the match, even if the doctor clears him. That would be a big risk,” he added.

It’s not the first Ishant sustained an injury in the past couple of months. After India’s day-night Test against Bangladesh in Kolkata, he developed a grade one hamstring tear. In New Zealand, Ishant is expected to play a massive role being a stalwart.