The Indian team's situation seems much more frightful than expected at this point, given the significant impact that injuries and the absence of important players have already had. There will be significant absences from the second Test match against England, which is set to start in Visakhapatnam on Friday. These players include Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli. This situation might also hold for the final three Tests, maybe with a few more exceptions. The Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid combination may have to battle Ben Stokes' England team without several of their regular players as they are already one down in the five-Test series.
BCCI is aware that Jadeja's hamstring injury might take longer to heal than first thought, hamstring problems often take four to eight weeks to resolve, and that he might be out for a long time. It is practically a given that he would miss the third Test in his home city of Rajkot; in fact, experts say it would be amazing if he could stay healthy for the fourth Test, which takes place in Ranchi from February 23 to 27. His absence for the second Test is the only one mentioned in the latest BCCI media release.
Shami's status is likewise not encouraging. The pacer is having trouble in landing because of an ankle problem, as Cricbuzz has often reported. He is thought to be receiving injectable treatments for his ankle while he is in London, but there is no current information regarding surgery. He most likely won't be available for any of the current five-Test series matches. The question is, at what point will he be allowed to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which runs from March to May?
Regarding Kohli, nothing has been spoken at all, and the BCCI has asked for secrecy. Cricbuzz can confirm that the star batter is now abroad, raising doubts about his availability for the remaining games without going into the reasons behind his absence. Initially, the BCCI had declared that his absence was limited to the first two Test matches.
Rahul's situation does not appear to be as concerning as others' at this point, and signs suggest he may be prepared for the third Test, which begins on February 15. Rahul reported experiencing pain in his right quadriceps, which the BCCI said was caused by the thigh surgery he had in 2022. Since he is one of the team's major batsmen, the BCCI is believed to have taken precautions. Like Jadeja, he is currently employed by the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Given the significant time difference between the second and third Tests, it is thought that Rahul will recuperate in time for the third Test.
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