Star middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer will join the Indian team ahead of the second Test against Australia in Delhi after recovering from a back injury, the BCCI said in a statement. The second Test starts on Friday and India are leading 1-0 in the four-match series. “India batsman Shreyas Iyer has successfully completed his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy following his back injury and has been cleared by the BCCI medical team. Shreyas MasterCard team in New Delhi ahead of the second Test of Australia’s tour of India Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Iyer hasn’t played any competitive cricket for a month now and it remains to be seen whether he gets thrown straight into a Test match where he might have to field for 90 overs, crouch and then bowl long Can bat for a long time.
Meanwhile, the Australian men’s cricket team reached Delhi on Tuesday for the second Test of the four-match Test series against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Delhi is hosting its first Test since December 2017. India will be eyeing their World Test Championship Final qualification chances, while Australia will be looking to register a series win in the subcontinent.
Only two sessions of play were needed to get a result on the third day of the first Test as India took a 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur. After gaining a lead of over 200 runs, India bowled Australia out for 91 runs in almost a session to win the Test by an innings and 132 runs. Ravindra Jadeja was declared player of the match for his bowling figures of 7-81 and 70 runs along with Willow.
The win narrowed the gap between the two sides in the World Test Championship standings, with India’s points percentage rising to 61.67%, while Australia’s fell to 70.83%.
Australia currently lead the ICC World Test Championship standings and India need to avoid a 4-0 whitewash to ensure they reach June’s final at The Oval.
Indian team for the second test: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mo. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav
With inputs from PTI and ANI
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