In what comes as a major boost for Virat-Kohli led team India a month ahead of their 4-match Test series against Australia, veteran speedster Ishant Sharma is on track to be fully fit for the bilateral engagement between the two heavyweights in the red-ball format, which gets underway at Adelaide from December 17.

Ishant, who is a veteran of 97 Tests was not picked up in India's Test squad for Australia series owing to a abdominal muscle tear which he had suffered during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Ishant flew back to India from the UAE after playing just one IPL game for Delhi Capitals and wasn't named in the Test squad at first.

Two weeks after Ishant's injury in the IPL, the BCCI came out with a positive update on Ishant's injury stating that he is undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). The board also announced that Ishant would be added to the Test squad.

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"As NCA head, Dravid has informed the board that Ishant is working with Mhambrey to be fit in time for the Test matches. Ishant will definitely have a big role to play and his presence will not just give India another strike bowler, but also his experience will bring a lot to the table in Kohli's absence," a source told ANI.

An integral part of a potent Indian pace battery, Ishant has scalped 297 wickets in 97 Test matches. Considered a Test specialist, Ishant has a pretty decent record in white ball cricket too, picking up 115 wickets in 80 one day internationals.

The highly awaited India-Australia Test series gets underway from December 17 in Adelaide. After the series opener at Adelaide, the next three Tests will be played at Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane respectively.