Ravi Ashwin ruled out of Sydney Test, confirms Virat Kohli

India will have their task cut out when they take on Australia in the fourth and final Test in Sydney. The visitors are well on their way of creating history after winning the third Test in Melbourne. India had thrashed Tim Paine & Co. by 137 runs in the penultimate game of the series to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series. Courtesy of the win in Melbourne, the tourists have also retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

All eyes will be on the Sydney Test now where India will be aiming a historic triumph. No Indian team in the past has managed to win a Test series Down Under. In fact, prior to the wins in the ongoing series, India had last won a Test in Australia way back in 2008. Well, Virat Kohli and his teammates have a golden opportunity of breaking India’s duck and enter the record books. A draw will be more than enough for India to bag the series.

However, just a day before the much-awaited clash India suffered a huge injury setback in the form of their spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner, who had missed the second and third Tests, has been ruled out of the upcoming Test too. He had suffered an abdominal strain on the fourth day of the opening Adelaide Test and although he trained on Tuesday, he has not recovered in time and will miss his third Test in a row.

Skipper Virat Kohli confirmed the news while stating the Ashwin was disappointed with the latest injury setback.

“It’s unfortunate that he’s had two niggles that are quite similar in the last two away tours,” said Kohli.

“He’s very important for sure. In Test cricket he’s a vital part of this team and we wanted him to be 100 percent fit for a longer period to that he can come back to us in the Test format. He is very disappointed that he’s not able to recover in time,” he added.

India forced to change the playing eleven

India, meanwhile, will have to change the playing eleven anyway as Rohit Sharma, who scored an unbeaten 63 in the last Test, will miss the game too. The right-hander has left for India to attend the birth of his first child. Hardik Pandya is looking set to replace Rohit in the team while Ravindra Jadeja is more than likely to replace his place in the team as the lone spinner.