Cricket

Team India's Woes Mount as Shubman Gill Suffers Finger InjuryAhead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Team India has been dealt another blow with the injury to star batter Shubman Gill. During a match simulation in Perth on Saturday, Gill sustained a finger injury while fielding in the slips.Sources close to the team have confirmed Gill's injury but have emphasized that it is premature to rule him out of the opening Test in Perth, scheduled to commence on November 22. The medical team is closely monitoring his condition."Yes, Shubman Gill is injured, but it is too early to rule him out of the opening Test. The medical team is keeping a close watch on him," said a well-placed source.This latest injury concern follows the news of KL Rahul being struck by a ball during practice, rendering him unable to continue. Virat Kohli, too, had been hampered by an injury concern but was later cleared after scans revealed no significant issues."Virat Kohli is absolutely fine. He batted in the match simulation without any discomfort and also had a hit in the net after he got out. No concerns there," a source told TimesofIndia.com.The Indian contingent in Perth has been engaged in intense net sessions and match simulations over the past two days. Initially, a practice match was planned, but the management opted for match simulations on the center wicket instead.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a prestigious four-match Test series between India and Australia. The first Test will be played at the Perth Stadium, followed by matches in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.Team India will be hoping for a positive update on Gill's injury as they aim to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they won in 2018-19.

Sri Lanka's spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand due to a left hamstring injury sustained during the second T20I on Sunday. Hasaranga, who has been Sri Lanka's most successful bowler in the T20I series, will be replaced by Dushan Hemantha, another legspin-bowling allrounder.Hasaranga's absence is a significant blow to Sri Lanka, as he has been in excellent form in recent matches. In the first T20I, he took 2 for 20 and scored an important 22 off 23 balls. In the second T20I, he took 4 for 17, including the wickets of New Zealand's top three batsmen.Sri Lanka already had another legspinner in the squad in Jeffrey Vandersay, but Hasaranga's absence will leave a big hole in the team's bowling attack. Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage are the other frontline spinners in the squad.Hasaranga becomes the second player to be ruled out of the series due to injuries sustained in the second T20I. New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also unavailable due to a calf injury.The ODI series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand begins on Wednesday, with the first match to be played in Dambulla. The remaining two games will be played in Pallekele.

Mushfiqur Rahim's absence from the Bangladesh Test squad for the upcoming series against West Indies marks a significant shift in the team's composition. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter, who has been a mainstay of the side for over a decade, has been ruled out due to a finger injury.Mushfiqur's injury means that Bangladesh will field a Test team without any of its "big three" for the first time in 16 years. Shakib Al Hasan retired from the format in September, while Tamim Iqbal has not played a Test since last year.The absence of these experienced players places a heavy burden on the shoulders of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. However, Shanto will have a strong pace attack at his disposal, including Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, and Nahid Rana.Uncapped left-arm spinner Hasan Murad has been added to the spin department, which also includes vice-captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam.In the batting department, Bangladesh have kept faith in their regular top-order batters Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, and Zakir Hasan. Shanto and Mominul Haque will bat at No. 3 and 4 respectively.Mushfiqur's role could fall on Jaker Ali or Mahidul Islam Ankon, with Litton Das back with the gloves and likely to bat at No. 7.Bangladesh will start the tour with a four-day warm-up game at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, followed by the first Test in Antigua from November 22. The second Test is in Jamaica, starting November 30. The visitors will then play three ODIs and as many T20Is, but their white-ball squad hasn't been announced yet.

Allrounder Cooper Connolly's T20I aspirations have been dashed after he sustained a fractured left hand during the third ODI against Pakistan in Perth. The injury, which occurred when he was struck by a Mohammad Hasnain delivery, has ruled him out of the upcoming T20I series.Connolly, who made his international debut in September, was struck on the glove while attempting a pull shot in the 17th over. Despite facing one more delivery, he soon realized the severity of the injury and left the field for assessment. Subsequent scans confirmed the fracture to the fourth metacarpal of his left hand.The injury is a significant setback for the Australian selectors, who view Connolly as a promising all-rounder with potential for the 2026 T20 World Cup. His finishing skills with the bat and left-arm spin are highly valued in Australian cricket.Connolly's absence from the T20I series will also impact the Perth Scorchers, who are set to begin their BBL campaign on December 15. The Scorchers will closely monitor his recovery timeline, as he would have been a key player for them prior to the injury.The injury also affects Western Australia's Sheffield Shield campaign, as Connolly would have been available for their remaining two matches before the BBL.Connolly's debut tour of the UK in September saw him play two T20Is without batting or taking any wickets. He was part of the Australia A squad for the recent matches against India A, where he scored 37 in the first innings of the opening game.The Australian selectors will now need to find a replacement for Connolly in the T20I series against Pakistan. The injury highlights the importance of player depth and the challenges of managing workloads in a busy international schedule.

Mohammed Shami's Comeback Delayed by Fresh Injury, Casting Doubt on Border-Gavaskar Series ParticipationIndia's premier fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. According to reliable sources, Shami has developed a side strain injury, further delaying his return to competitive cricket.Shami, who has been sidelined for nearly a year due to a knee injury, was not included in the Bengal squad for the next two rounds of the Ranji Trophy. The experienced pacer had previously expressed his readiness to return to action after recovering from his knee injury. However, his name was conspicuously absent when India announced a 15-man squad for the Test series against Australia."I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can't put too much stress on my body. So we decided that I would bowl properly, and I gave my 100%," Shami had said at a promotional event last month.Despite bowling at full tilt in the nets during India's recent Test series against New Zealand, Shami's side strain injury has raised concerns about his fitness for the Australia tour. India captain Rohit Sharma had previously stated that the team did not want to risk an "undercooked Shami" in Australia.Shami's last competitive appearance came in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2022. His absence from the Border-Gavaskar series would be a significant blow to India's bowling attack, which is already missing Jasprit Bumrah due to a back injury.The extent of Shami's side strain injury and the timeline for his recovery remain unclear. However, the fresh setback casts doubt on his ability to regain full fitness in time for the Australia tour, which begins in February 2023.

Mohammed Shami's much-anticipated return to competitive cricket has been further delayed, as the Bengal pacer's name was conspicuously absent from the squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.The 34-year-old has been sidelined since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an Achilles heel injury that required surgery in February. Despite months of rehabilitation, Shami's fitness remains a concern, prompting the BCCI to recommend that he play for Bengal first to assess his condition.Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla had expressed optimism about Shami's availability for the away matches, but the pacer's absence has raised doubts about his readiness for international duty.Shami himself had indicated a desire to play domestic matches before joining the Indian team for the Australia tour. "It's better that I play one or two domestic matches before going to Australia," he had said. "I don't know when I can play next, but the day I feel comfortable bowling 20-30 overs and get the nod from the doctors, I'll make a run to play a match."However, it appears that Shami has not yet reached the desired level of fitness. The pacer's absence from the Bengal squad suggests that he may not be ready for the rigors of international cricket just yet.The delay in Shami's return is a setback for both the player and the Indian team. Shami is a key member of the Indian pace attack, and his experience and skill would be invaluable in the upcoming Test series against Australia.The BCCI will continue to monitor Shami's progress and make a decision on his availability for the Australia tour at a later date. In the meantime, the pacer will focus on regaining full fitness and proving his readiness for international duty.

Mayank Yadav's Injury Woes Continue, Sidelined for Months with Back ProblemIndian speedster Mayank Yadav's promising international debut has been cut short by a back injury, ruling him out of the upcoming four-match T20I series against South Africa. The 25-year-old, who impressed with his pace and accuracy in the recent series against Bangladesh, is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.Sources close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have revealed that Yadav's back issue is likely to keep him out of action for several months. The bowler is currently undergoing treatment at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru."He's back here for another problem, which might keep him out for two-three months. Mostly it's something related to the back, but there's not much clarity into it. But then, it's also something which is believed to keep him out for a considerable amount of time," a source told IANS.Yadav's injury setback is a major blow to his burgeoning career. The Delhi-born pacer has faced several injury challenges in the past, including a torn hamstring that ruled him out of IPL 2023 and a separate injury that forced him to miss the entire 2023/24 Ranji Trophy season.Despite these setbacks, Yadav has shown resilience and determination to overcome adversity. He underwent extensive rehabilitation at the CoE following his abdominal strain in IPL 2024, where he impressed with his rapid three-wicket spells and speeds exceeding 150kmph.With the IPL retentions deadline approaching on October 31, Yadav is expected to be one of the five players retained by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The franchise acquired him for INR 20 lakhs in the auction before the 2022 season.Yadav's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of international cricket and the importance of injury prevention and management. The BCCI will be hoping that the young pacer can recover fully and return to the field stronger than ever before.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, has expressed his disappointment on social media after being overlooked for the upcoming Test series against Australia. Shami has been sidelined since the ODI World Cup 2023 final due to an ankle injury and subsequent knee swelling.Despite recently declaring himself pain-free, the selectors opted to exclude him from the squad. Shami took to Instagram to share a video of his training, expressing his determination to regain match fitness and return to the red-ball format.Australia head coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged Shami's absence as a significant loss for India. However, he emphasized that his team will not underestimate the replacement pacers, citing India's victory in the Gabba Test in 2021.McDonald also hinted at the possibility of Shami joining the Indian team for the second half of the Australia tour if he proves his fitness in Bengal's upcoming Ranji Trophy matches. India has a strong record in Australia, having won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in their last two visits.Shami's injury has opened the door for other bowlers to stake their claim in the Test team. The likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jaydev Unadkat will be eager to impress and cement their places in the squad.The absence of Shami is a blow to India's bowling attack, but it also presents an opportunity for other bowlers to step up and prove their worth. The upcoming Test series against Australia promises to be a fiercely contested battle, and the outcome could hinge on the performances of the bowlers from both sides.

New Zealand's all-rounder Amelia Kerr has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against India due to a left quadricep muscle tear. The injury, sustained during the opening game, is expected to sideline her for approximately three weeks.Kerr's absence is a significant blow to New Zealand's hopes of climbing the Women's ODI Championship table. Currently ranked sixth, the White Ferns need a top-six finish to secure direct qualification for the 2026 ODI World Cup.The 22-year-old was a key figure in New Zealand's recent T20 World Cup triumph, finishing as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 15 scalps. She continued her impressive form in the opening ODI against India, taking 4 for 42 and scoring an unbeaten 25.Kerr's injury also casts doubt on her participation in the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) for the Sydney Sixers. As a platinum-category pick, she was expected to play a pivotal role for the Sixers. However, she could miss up to eight of their 10 league games even if she recovers within the estimated three-week timeframe.New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer expressed disappointment over Kerr's injury. "We're really gutted for Melie," he said. "Injuries are always a challenging time for a player, and we know how disappointed she is to not be able to play these games.""Everyone knows how much of an integral part of this team Melie is, so we'll certainly miss her. But we're wishing her a speedy recovery."The remaining two ODIs between New Zealand and India will be played on October 27 and 29 in Ahmedabad. The White Ferns will face a tough challenge against the world champions without their star all-rounder.