Team India’s wicketkeeper in Tests, Wriddhiman Saha’s name wasn’t there in the 18-member squad which BCCI announced on Wednesday, for the first three Tests against England starting from August 1.
There were assumptions that he may not have recovered from the thumb injury which he picked during the eleventh edition of the IPL. Hence, he couldn't make it to the Indian side in whites for the upcoming series. However, a major development in his health condition has been learned through several media reports.
It stated that Saha’s condition is critical as the problem is not in his thumb but his shoulder. He has been suffering from an injury in his shoulder for the last five-odd months. This occurred when he returned from South Africa and was detected during the IPL.
Further, it has been learned that he represented the Sunrisers Hyderabad taking painkillers, but now, the condition has worsened.
Another report in Anandabazar Patrika stated that the 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman may require a shoulder surgery and the recovery may keep him away from the field for 2-3 months. Then if he wishes to join the Indian team, he will have to prove his fitness in the domestic circuit.
Meanwhile, a post was shared on Saha’s official Twitter handle, confirming his injury.
Here’s the post:
In the absence of Saha, Dinesh Karthik has been inducted into the side along with Rishabh Pant as a backup.
Here’s the complete squad:
Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammad Shami, Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, Ishant Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav