India fast-bowler Ishant Sharma is likely to miss the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch starting Saturday. According to cricket expert Vimal Kumar, who was present at the venue to cover team India’s practice session, Ishant didn’t bowl in the nets on Friday due to recurrence of the ankle injury which he suffered while playing for Delhi in Ranji Trophy last month.
If confirmed, this will come as a big blow for India as Ishant was the pick of their bowlers in the first Test in Wellington, which India lost by 10 wickets. Ishant had scalped five wickets in the first essay which gave India a fighting chance to make a comeback into the match.
If Ishant fails to make it into the playing XI, he will be replaced by either Umesh Yadav or Navdeep Saini, both of whom were seen sweating it hard in the Friday practice session. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are yet to confirm Ishant’s absence from the squad for the second Test.
Ishant had suffered the injury during Delhi’s Ranji Trophy clash against Vidarbha in January. Ishant twisted his ankle while back pedalling and was seen wincing in pain after falling on the ground.
Ishant had suffered a Grade 3 tear on his right ankle and was expected to be out of the New Zealand tour entirely. However, the pacer turned things around well and returned in time for the first Test against the Kiwis. But it seems that particular injury has returned to haunt the speedster once again.
Ishant needed just three wickets to join the illustrious 300 club for India but it seems the experienced pacer will have to wait for another time to put his name along side Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434), Harbhajan Singh (417), R Ashwin (365) and Zaheer Khan (297).