IND vs ENG: India's opening batsman Mayank Agarwal has been ruled out of the opening Test against England after suffering serious injury on head on Monday. The opener showed signs of concussion after getting hit on the helmet during a training session.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India in a an official statement said that the 30-year-old is stable and will remain under close medical observation.
"BCCI Medical Team assessed Mayank and a concussion test was conducted. He has shown signs of concussion. He is stable and will remain under close medical observation." BCCI said.
According to reports, Agarwal was apparently hit on the back of his head when he took his eyes off a short ball delivered by Siraj, possibly the fastest in the current Indian line-up. He took a blow on his helmet following which he was in some discomfort and seen pressing the back of his head while leaving the nets.
Now that he has been ruled out of the first test, KL Rahul, who has mostly opened in Test matches, could be asked to open. The other option is Bengal opener Abhumanyu Easwaran. The think-tank may also look at pushing Hanuma Vihari to the opening slot.
The incident has come at the time when Indian team is already grappling with a series of injuries after the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June.
Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan have been ruled out of the series with Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav added as replacements.