Ishant Sharma had to get several stitches on his bowling arm after being injured on the last day of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, but the pacer was fit in time for India's five-match Test series against England starting in August. is expected to be. 4.
Sharma tried to stop a drive from Ross Taylor which turned out to be the final over of the final. He left the field with blood oozing from his hand, bowling only two deliveries in his seventh over, which was completed by Jasprit Bumrah.
"Ishant has got multiple stitches on the middle and fourth finger of his right hand. However, it is not very serious," a BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI. "The stitches will wear off in about ten days and with six weeks left for the first Test against England, he is expected to heal on time."
The Indian team is getting a three-week break after the conclusion of the WTC final, which New Zealand won by eight wickets.
"The squad traveled together to London. From here they can all leave for their respective destinations within the UK for a break of 20 days," the official said.
However, once the team regroups in London on 14 July and leaves for Nottingham, they are unlikely to get first-class practice matches against English county teams. They will instead play two intra-squad games at Durham's Riverside Ground.
After the WTC final, India captain Virat Kohli had expressed his desire for practice games.
Kohli had said, 'It is not up to us. Obviously we wanted a first-class match, which was not given to me. "I don't know what are the reasons. But yes, other than that I think our preparation time will be enough for us to be ready for the first Test."
While it is understood that the BCCI had requested the ECB for some practice games, the COVID-19 situation would not allow any such plans to go ahead.
"Due to the COVID-19 protocol, they will play two intra-squad four-day matches before the first Test in August," an ECB spokesperson told PTI on Friday. Asked if there is a possibility of matches against county teams, the spokesperson said, "No.
In England, cricketers from different counties are being regularly tested for COVID-19, but they are not being put in a bubble. But after leaving Durham, the Indian team will be in a bubble again.
"England domestic cricketers not being in the bubble is definitely an issue. So the games in Durham will be intra-squad," said a BCCI official.
India are currently traveling with 24 players - 20 in the official squad and four reserves - which will thus allow them to play intra-squad games.