Jasprit Bumrah doubtful for Brisbane Test as injury worries grow for Team India

In what comes as a huge blow to the injury-plagued Indian cricket team, ace speedsterJaspritBumrahis doubtful for the fourth Test against Australia, scheduled to start from January 15, due to anabdominalstrain.

Even Mayank Agarwal, tipped to be Hanuma Vihari’s replacement in the playing XI for the Brisbane Test,was hit on the hands and there are chances that it could result in a hairline fracture. If confirmed, then Mayank will be ruled out of the Brisbane Test.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who battled back spasm, has aggravated the strain after battling for three hours on Day 5 to save the Sydney Test.

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Bumrahsustained the abdominal strain during the third Test in Sydney but continued to bowl to keep India in the game. Reportedly,Bumrah’sscan reports have shown a strain and Indian team management doesn’t want him to aggravate the injury with home series against Englandlined up.

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The Indian team is relieved to know thatBumrahhasn’t suffered a tear but are in fear that the Indian pacermight break down in the middle of Brisbane Test if he is given the nod to play.

IfBumrahdoesn’t start, then two-Test old Mohammed Siraj will lead the Indian bowling attack which is likely to feature Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan in Brisbane Test.

With injured KL Rahul out and Hanuma Vihari suffering a grade 2 hamstring tear, there are no middle-order batsmen left in the reserves.

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The two available batsmen are Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. If Agarwal’s scans reveal that it is a bruise and not a fracture thenit could well be Prithvi Shaw batting at number three followed byCheteshwarPujara,AjhinkyaRahane and Agarwal himself at number six.

With series locked at 1-1, India andAustraliawill take the field at the Gabba in Brisbane for the decider on January 15.