Reports: Wriddhiman Saha doubtful for Australia tour after tearing his hamstring in IPL 2020

India’s Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha seems set to miss yet another crucial overseas series due to an injury. The veteran is looking doubtful for the upcoming tour of Australia after being diagnosed with a hamstring tear. India are scheduled to play three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests in Australia. The Test series is scheduled to get underway on December 17 in Adelaide.

Saha has been sidelined with the injury since the game against Mumbai Indians on November 3. He had scored an unbeaten 58 in the game before missing the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore and the second Qualifier against Delhi Capitals on Sunday. His absence was definitely felt by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Delhi as they lost the game by 17 runs and crashed out of IPL 2020.

“Wriddhiman Saha has a hamstring tear,” SRH skipper David Warner confirmed the nature of injury during the toss for the game against Delhi Capitals.

Extent of injury not known

While Wriddhiman Saha has been sidelined for nearly a week now, the extent of his injury is not known yet. The Bengal star had stretched his groin while batting against Delhi Capitals in the second leg of the IPL but then played against Mumbai Indians where he must have picked up a tear while fighting the earlier niggle.

According to a report in The Hindustan Times, if Saha has a grade 1 tear, which normally takes four weeks of rest and rehabilitation, then he would be boarding the flight to Australia. However, he looks set to miss the flight in case of a Grade 2 tear as he would need two months minimum to recover. The selectors will take the final call on his participation in the series.

The selectors are unlikely to announce a replacement as two wicketkeepers (Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson) are accompanying Team India to Australia.  Pant has been named in the Test squad while Samson is a part of the T20I squad. KL Rahul, who has been keeping the wickets in ODIs and T20Is, is also in the Test squad. India’s tour of Australia will start with the ODI series on November 27.