After a disappointing loss in the series opener by an innings and 32 runs at Centurion, the Indian men's cricket team is poised for a comeback in the second and final Test against South Africa. The forthcoming red-ball clash between the two teams is scheduled at Newlands in Cape Town on January 3. Despite the underwhelming performance by the Indian batters in the series opener, it seems unlikely that India will tweak their batting lineup.
However, there's a significant concern for the Indian team leading up to the IND vs SA 2nd Test as all-rounder Shardul Thakur suffered a shoulder injury on Saturday at Centurion while batting in the nets. The severity of the injury remains unconfirmed, and scans might be conducted if deemed necessary. As of now, there's no definitive confirmation about the need for scans. Thakur seemed to be in considerable pain after the impact and refrained from bowling in the nets following the incident as can be seen in the video uploaded by PTI on X (formerly Twitter).
Watch below viral video...
During throwdowns in the nets, Thakur encountered the injury when a ball kicked up from a distance hit his left shoulder awkwardly, causing considerable pain. Following his batting session, the team physio applied an ice pack sling to his shoulder.
The incident occurred during the supposed final day of the Test at Centurion, which concluded in just three days with South Africa clinching an innings victory.
Shardul contributed with a gritty 24 in the first innings of the 1st Test but got out to a short ball in the second innings. Additionally, his bowling performance was poor, conceding over 100 runs in 19 overs with just one wicket to his credit.