Even as the list of injured piles on for India, the reinforcements have finally been sent for. With Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh joining those who had fitness issues in the second Test match against England, Pragyan Ojha and Virat Kohli will join the Indian team for the rest of the Test series.
India’s Tour Of England: Kohli, Ojha Join Beleaguered Indian Team
With Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh ruled out of the Test series because of injury, Virat Kohli and Pragyan Ojha have been called up as reinforcements.
Harbhajan had suffered from a stomach muscle strain on the third day of the second Test match which had meant that the Indian captain was left to manoeuvre with only three bowlers yet again. They had suffered from this issue in the first Test match when Zaheer Khan got injured in the first Test match of the series and did not play any further part after the first day.
Yuvraj’s injury came towards the end of the game, when he was hit flush on his gloves by a Tim Bresnan bouncer. Peppered by the short bowling, he was hit on the hand and threw his bat as he winced in pain. He continued batting but lasted only a few more deliveries before being dismissed by the same bowler.
Kohli, who was a part of the Indian tour of West Indies, but failed to get too many runs, may not make it to the playing eleven immediately. This is because Gautam Gambhir has been pronounced fit to play the game as well and could take Yuvraj’s place. On the other hand, if Virender Sehwag, who has landed in England, can get going in the warm-up game against Northampton, then he may replace Abhinav Mukund at the top of the order.
Ojha was to leave India to join Surrey as their overseas player for the rest of the season but will now have to shelf that plan. He is a left-arm spinner and while leg-spinner Amit Mishra may get a chance at Edgbaston for the third Test, the Oval pitch could entice the Indians to play two spinners.
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