Ravichandran Ashwin leaves training session with forearm injury

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was hit by a cricket ball and injured his forearm during the morning training session on the final day of Team India’s preparatory camp in Bengaluru.

The Indian team was training at the NCA and had played a practice match at Alur on Sunday.

Ravichandran Ashwin injures forearm during practice session in Bengaluru ahead of the #WestIndies tour. pic.twitter.com/2JeGklvONJ

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2016

The Indian off-spinner, who claimed 176 wickets in 32 Tests, is the key to India’s chances in the upcoming series against West Indies.

India’s newly appointed head coach Anil Kumble, while addressing the pre-departure press conference earlier today, ruled out a bigger scare and said Ashwin just had a bruise. When asked about Ashwin’s injury, Kumble said, “It’s a bruise, we’ll assess him. It’s been just an hour since it happened.” This will be the first assignment for Anil Kumble as head coach of the Indian team after he was appointed recently by the BCCI.

Also read – Only 1 player survived Anil Kumble’s one hour test

The Indian team will leave for West Indies on July 5 for a four-match Test series in West Indies starting from July 21. The tour will start with a two-day practice match from July 9 at Warner Park, St Kitts followed by a three-day warm-up match from July 14 at the same venue. The first Test will begin on July 21 at Antigua, the second on July 30 in Jamaica, the third on August 9 in St Lucia, the fourth and final one on August 18 in Trinidad.