India received a huge blow after Prithvi Shaw’s ankle injury during the tour match against Cricket Australia XI. The young Indian batting sensation was unfortunately ruled out of the first two Tests of series but now, he is expected to return at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Head Coach Ravi Shastri, on Wednesday, stated that Prithvi is recovering quickly from his injury and might return in the third Test.
“It was heartbreaking to see him go down the way he did but the good thing is he is recovering well. He has started walking, maybe if we can get him running by the weekend, that will really be a good sign," Shastri told Australian radio channel SEN's Whateley.
“With youth by his side, he might recover quickly, we will take a call as we go close to Perth,” he added.
The 19-year-old from Mumbai hurt his left ankle while trying to take a catch at the deep mid-wicket boundary during India's practice match. Soon he was taken to the hospital for scans which revealed a lateral ligament injury which needed an intensive rehabilitation program to hasten the recovery.
India will begin the four-Test series against Australia with the first match here Thursday and Shastri said he expects the hosts to come hard at Virat Kohli and his men.