Sun Nov 17 03:30:00 UTC 2024: ## India’s Injury Woes Ahead of Crucial Australia Test Series
**Perth, Australia:** India’s much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia has begun under a cloud of injury concerns. Following a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand, the Indian team arrives in Australia needing a strong showing to secure their place in the World Test Championship final. However, key players are battling fitness issues ahead of the first Test, starting Friday, November 22nd, at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Star batsman KL Rahul, who sustained a right elbow injury during a practice match against Australia A, has resumed training. While his return is a positive sign, he’s expected to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the absence of captain Rohit Sharma, who is expected to miss the first match due to the recent birth of his second child. Rohit is likely to join the team for the second Test in Adelaide.
The news is worse for Shubman Gill, who suffered a fractured left thumb while taking a catch. A BCCI source confirmed the fracture, making his participation in the Perth Test highly unlikely. Gill’s recovery is expected to take around 14 days, making him a possible inclusion for the Adelaide Test starting December 6th.
Another injury concern is Sarfaraz Khan, who also suffered an elbow injury during practice, but is reportedly fit for the first Test.
KL Rahul’s recent form is also a cause for concern, having scored a duck and 12 runs in the New Zealand series before being dropped from the playing XI. His performance in the Australia A practice matches was also unimpressive (4 and 10 runs).
Despite these setbacks, the Indian team is determined to make a strong start to the series. The five-match Test series is crucial for their World Test Championship aspirations. The full tour schedule includes Tests in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
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