INDIA TOUR OF AUSTRALIA 2018-19

Rohit, Ashwin ruled out of Perth Test

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Ashwin picked up six wickets in India's 31-run win at Adelaide. © Getty

Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin have been ruled out of the second Test against Australia in Perth, it was confirmed on Thursday (December 13). Rohit sustained an injury to his back while attempting to field the ball on the fifth day of the Adelaide Test. Ashwin, on the other hand, is struggling with an abdominal strain on his left side.

13-man shortlist for Perth: Virat Kohli (c), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav.

Ashwin sent down 86.5 overs in Adelaide - the most he has bowled in a single Test. This included a marathon 52.5 over-effort in the second innings. He bagged six wickets and conceded at less than two runs an over. Subsequently, Ashwin played a minimal part in the practice sessions leading up to the second Test and did not have a bowl.

Ashwin, 32, has been afflicted with abdominal and groin injury concerns in the recent past. Earlier this year, he played through the Southampton Test against England with a groin injury that hampered his efficacy. He also missed out of IPL 2017 owing to a groin injury picked up at the latter stages of India's 13-Test home season of 2016-17.

Meanwhile, Prithvi Shaw, who missed the first Test because of an ankle injury, continues to recover and will miss this Test as well. "Shaw is recovering well from his left ankle injury but still undergoing treatment," BCCI said in a release.

With a green pitch laid out for the game, India could well look to go in with four pacers in the side with Hanuma Vihari coming in as a replacement for Rohit. The toss up is likely to be between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav. Ravindra Jadeja, picked ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, could provide control if India choose to stay with one spinner in their ranks as they did in Adelaide.

© Cricbuzz

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