Reports: Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma likely to miss South Africa tour due to injury issues

In what can be called a major development, the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shubman Gill, and Ishant Sharma are likely to miss India’s upcoming tour of South Africa due to injury concerns. These players featured in the recently-concluded Test series between India and New Zealand. However, all four now expected to be on the sidelines for quite a while.

For the unversed, India are scheduled to tour South Africa for three Tests and as many ODIs, starting from December 26. With many youngsters proving their mettle in the Test arena, the Chetan Sharma-headed selection committee would have had a tough time in finalizing the squad. However, injuries to these four individuals made somewhat made their job easier.

As per a report in the Indian Express, Jadeja has a ligament tear due to which he is expected to be sidelined while Axar has a stress fracture. As the tracks in South Africa aren’t known to assist spiners much, Axar and Jadeja’s absence isn’t expected to hurt the Indian team much. Moreover, the side still has the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Jayant Yadav.

Ravindra Jadeja out of action for few months

Notably, Jadeja didn’t either feature in the second Test against New Zealand, with Jayant Yadav replacing him in the team as the third specialist spinner.

“All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja suffered a right forearm injury during the 1st Test match in Kanpur. After undergoing scans, he was diagnosed with a swelling on his forearm. He has been advised rest and is thus ruled out of the 2nd Test in Mumbai,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had stated in a released ahead of the start of the Mumbai Test. Ishant Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane also missed the clash due to fitness issues.

Although India might not miss Jadeja a lot in the Test series, the concerning part is that the southpaw’s ligament tear is expected to take months before the all-rounder can make a comeback. On the other hand, Axar is expected to regain match fitness within six weeks.

Speaking of Gill, the opener’s shin injury has resurfaced which ruled him out of the England tour earlier this year. Ishant Sharma had also missed the Mumbai Test due to a side strain. The same might keep him away from South Africa Tests as well.