WI vs IND: Ravindra Jadeja ruled out of opening two ODIs due to knee injury

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released an official statement confirming the unavailability of star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the opening two matches due to an injury sustained in the right knee. The announcement was made via BCCI’s official Twitter handle while India locked horns with the West Indies in the first of three ODIs in Port of Spain.

West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and elected to field in the series opener. Shikhar Dhawan, who is leading the Indian side in the absence of Rohit Sharma, had confirmed earlier that Ravindra Jadeja had a niggle and won’t be part of the playing XI in the first ODI against Pooran’s side. The young Caribbean skipper was dealt a blow ahead of the game as well as he revealed that the returning Jason Holder has tested positive for Covid-19 and hence is unavailable for the opening game.

BCCI released an official statement on Twitter that read, “Team India all-rounder Mr. Ravindra Jadeja has sustained an injury to his right knee and has been ruled out of the first two ODIs against West Indies. The BCCI Medical team is monitoring his progress and a decision on his participation in the third ODI will be taken accordingly.”

Team India all-rounder Mr. Ravindra Jadeja has sustained an injury to his right knee and has been ruled out of the first two ODIs against West Indies.

The BCCI Medical team is monitoring his progress and a decision on his participation in the third ODI will be taken accordingly.

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 22, 2022

We have a good bunch of bowling unit so it will be very impactful: Shikhar Dhawan

Several key regular members of the Indian team have been rested for the series including regular skipper Rohit Sharma as many youngsters have been given a chance to prove their mettle in the three-match ODI series, which will be followed by five T20Is. Stand-in skipper, Dhawan, addressed the press ahead of the series opener and revealed the situation regarding the injury concerns in the team.

“Right now, he has a bit of a niggle so we don’t know whether he will be ready or not for the first ODI. Other than that, Siraj is there, Prasidh is there, and we have got amazing fast bowling. In spin, Axar Patel is there and Yuzvendra Chahal is there, we have a good bunch of bowling unit so it will be very impactful,” said Dhawan during a pre-match press conference.