Shikhar Dhawan available for selection, Ravindra Jadeja down with viral ahead of 1st Test against South Africa

Virat Kohli might play with three fast bowlers in the first Test as Ravindra Jadeja is unavailable for selection due to viral

By: Arun Rawal |
January 3, 2018 4:50 pm

The South Africa tour has not even started yet and Team India have suffered a blow ahead of the first Test starting January 5. Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is down with viral which will make him unavailable for the first Test at Newlands, Cape Town. On the other hand, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan is fit to play and might get picked in the playing XI ahead of KL Rahul.

According to BCCI’s press release,

The BCCI Medical Team in consultation with the local medical team has decided that Mr. Jadeja will be taken to a hospital for treatment and expects him to fully recover in the next 48 hrs. A decision on his availability for selection for the opening Test against South Africa will be taken on the morning of the match i.e. 5th January 2018.

They added,

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been suffering from viral illness for the past two days. The BCCI Medical Team has been monitoring him and is also in touch with the local medical team in Cape Town.

.@hardikpandya7 grinding it out at the nets #TeamIndia #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/9CK7HEDrW6

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 3, 2018

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But Dhawan is expected to be selected in the first Test starting January 5,

Meanwhile, India opener Shikhar Dhawan is fit and is available for selection for the first Test. Mr. Dhawan had suffered a minor ankle injury before the team’s departure to South Africa.

Skipper at the drills right now #TeamIndia #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/DyviUG4aXW

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 3, 2018

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India squad for the three-match Test series:

Virat Kohli (captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.