A big injury cloud hovers over India's star allrounder Ravindra Jadeja as the hosts prepare to script a comeback in the five-match-long Test series after losing the first fixture at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Jadeja was run out by Ben Stokes in the second innings of the first Test and was seen clutching his hamstring after being dismissed. As per a report by Cricbuzz, Jadeja's scans have been sent to Mumbai and his participation in the second Test which begins on February 2 at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam seems unlikely.
India's head coach Rahul Dravid was asked to divulge the details of Jadeja's injury in the post-match press conference but he didn't have any concrete knowledge about the same.
"I honestly haven't had a chance to speak to the physio as yet. Once I get back, I'll speak to him and see what it is about," Dravid told reporters after the end of the first Test.
If Jadeja fails to regain his fitness before the 2nd Test of the series, then India may choose to go with their left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Jadeja's unavailability can go on to hurt the hosts badly as he was one of the finest performers for them during the Hyderabad Test.
The southpaw picked up 3/88 and was the highest run-scorer for the Rohit Sharma-led side with 87. He was a tad expensive in the second innings as he conceded 131 runs in 34 overs and only managed to bag two poles.
Kuldeep, on the other hand, has played just eight Tests and snared 34 wickets at an average of 21.55. He made his Test debut against Australia in March 2017 but hasn't gotten many opportunities in longest format of the sport since then.
