Ajit Karn
Shreyas Iyer, the team’s best batter, missed the first Test because he hurt his lower back. He is still getting better at the National Cricket Academy, and it is unlikely that the team management will risk playing him in a Test match right away. The second Test between India and Australia will start on Friday at the Ferozshah Kotla. It remains to be seen if Iyer will be able to join the team.
Iyer had posted a few videos of his intense rehab programme at the NCA in Bengaluru, which was led by trainer S Rajnikanth.
Iyer is doing his strength training and conditioning routines, but in order to play for his country again, he usually has to play at least one domestic game first.
So, Iyer, who hasn’t played competitive cricket in a month, might not be thrown right into a Test match where he might have to field for 90 overs, crouch and stand close-in, and then bat for long hours.
It will be interesting to see if the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee puts Iyer in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup match against Madhya Pradesh from March 1–5 to prove his fitness, just like they asked Ravindra Jadeja to play a Ranji Trophy game against Tamil Nadu.
Australia might not rush Bumrah into ODIs.
Jasprit Bumrah’s recovery from a stress fracture has been slow, so the Indian team management is unlikely to risk playing him in the three ODIs against Australia right after the end of the four-match Test series.
Bumrah will be needed for both the big ODI World Cup in India at the end of the year and the possible World Test Championship final at the Oval in London from June 7–11.
So, it’s possible that Bumrah will come back to play for the Mumbai Indians in this year’s IPL season, where his workload will be watched.
Jadeja, Pujara sweat it out at Jamtha
Ravindra Jadeja was back in the nets at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha for an optional training session less than 48 hours after being named “Player of the Match” in the first Test. The second Test starts on Friday in Delhi.
Jadeja bowled and hit at the nets with Cheteshwar Pujara, who will play his 100th Test at the Ferozshah Kotla. Jadeja took seven wickets, including a five-for, and scored a polished 70.
Jaydev Unadkat rolled his arm over while KS Bharat worked on his keeping and batting skills. On Tuesday, Unadkat will fly to Kolkata to play in the Ranji Trophy final against Bengal.
After the Nagpur Test, the grounds crew watered the centre wicket, so the Australian team couldn’t train there. Instead, they had a long session on the match strip. Marnus Labuschagne kept wickets for the spinners in a few pictures that were shared on social media.
Starc trains at Kotla, but Team India hasn’t given him any instructions on how to prepare the pitch.
Also read:- India vs Australia Third Test match shifted to Indore due to outfield issues in Dharamsala
Even though the Australian team won’t get to Delhi until Tuesday morning, Mitchell Starc, who missed the first Test because of an injury, has already had his first nets session at the Kotla.
While he was bowling in the nets, he invited the local net bowlers to join him for a 20-minute knock.
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The DDCA ground staff hasn’t stopped watering the track at the Ferozshah Kotla yet, and contrary to what the Australian media has said, DDCA sources say that the Indian team management hasn’t given any specific instructions on how to prepare the track.
