India have announced a 13-man squad for the 2nd Test against Australia starting from Friday in Perth. In a major blow to the side, spinner R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma have been ruled out due to injury. Ashwin has sustained a left-sided abdominal strain while Rohit Sharma jarred his lower back while fielding in the 1st Test at Adelaide. Both of them are receiving treatment at the moment.
In their absence, India included Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the squad announced for the second Test.
“Prithvi Shaw is recovering well from his left ankle injury but still undergoing treatment. R Ashwin has a left-sided abdominal strain. He is receiving treatment at the moment. Rohit Sharma jarred his lower back while fielding in the 1st Test at Adelaide. He is undergoing treatment. He too is ruled out of the second Test,” read a statement from the BCCI.
“The team management is closely monitoring these players and a call on their availability for the third Test will be taken at an appropriate time,” it added.
Ashwin's unavailability is a big loss as he had taken a six-wicket haul at Adelaide to help India record their first win in a series opener in Australia. Rohit, who made a Test comeback at the Adelaide Oval, was expected to retain his place in the eleven after scores of 37 and 1.
India's 13-man squad:
Virat Kohli (captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav