In a significant development before the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Mumbai-based batter Sarfaraz Khan sustained an elbow injury during a practice session at the renowned WACA Stadium in Perth. The injury, occurring during India’s preparations for the upcoming five-Test series against Australia, has raised concerns about the team’s batting strength.
A video posted by Fox Cricket captured the 27-year-old Sarfaraz leaving the field in discomfort after a ball struck his right elbow while batting in the nets. The footage, quickly circulating on social media, shows Sarfaraz wincing in pain as he exits the field with the team physio. Although the injury’s severity has not yet been confirmed, it has sparked apprehension within the Indian camp.
Sarfaraz, who made his Test debut in February 2024, had a promising start with consecutive fifties but has struggled with consistency since. His standout performance remains a brilliant 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, though he has managed only one other half-century across his seven subsequent innings.
India arrived in Australia earlier this week in two separate groups, training intensively at the fast, bouncy WACA pitch to acclimate to the expected pace and bounce of Australian pitches. The potential absence of Sarfaraz could be another blow to the Indian side, as they are already missing Rohit Sharma for the first Test, leaving a gap in the top order.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir is leading the Indian team’s preparations, determined to help them bounce back after their recent series loss to New Zealand.
India Squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Travelling Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed.
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