Indian skipper Rohit Sharma fell victim to a massive injury scare during the practice session ahead of the Boxing Day test starting on December 26 (Thursday) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The ongoing five-match test series of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 is leveled with 1-1, both teams are in a must-win situation in the forthcoming fourth test match to improve their qualification chances into the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.
Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team has several issues to resolve out of which the rising injury threats seem to be a huge concern.
Earlier, KL Rahul suffered a finger injury during the net session on Saturday (December 21). The next day Rohit Sharma became the latest arrival in the list after sustaining an injury on his knee that left his fans shocked.
Having been the top performer for his team over a decade, this isn’t the first time the Hitman has faced an injury in the nets. Though the 37-year-old’s batting skills are exceptional, his lack of form poses questions about his fitness.
How did Rohit Sharma face an injury scare in Melbourne ahead of the Boxing Day Test BGT 2024?
On December 22 (Sunday), Rohit Sharma experienced a frightening injury scare during a training session while facing the deliveries of India’s throwdown specialist Daya, as the ball passed through his pads and struck his left knee. Despite his best attempts to bat for a longer duration, he was forced to leave the nets with increasing discomfort.
Within a few moments, users started sharing photos on social media that showed the Indian captain applying ice packs on his knee for nearly 20 to 25 minutes. Along with the staff members, his teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan assembled around Rohit.
Fans Troll Rohit Sharma’s Injury Scare and Poor Form Ahead of Fourth Test BGT 2024-25
While a certain set of fans felt it was good news for Team India, others started trolling Rohit Sharma’s injury scare on social media. Out of countless comments, these are the few ones that mock the Indian captain’s poor form which is becoming viral ahead of the fourth test:
- Drama Started Again! First ever cricketer to become injured before every test in SENA countries.
- Great News for the Australian cricket team.
- Sad News for the Indian cricket team. A Batter with an 11.69 average in the last 13 tests and still playing for India.
- A Little Scare for Australia (with hilarious emojis).
- And so on…
Not only does the loss of form add pressure on Rohit Sharma’s batting, but also adds criticism on his captaincy as well. With the qualification of the WTC 2025 final being at risk, Team India securing a victory in the Boxing Day Test becomes crucial under his leadership. Especially, Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat in the middle order with KL Rahul proving his worth in the opening slot during his absence in the Perth Test poses a real challenge to his batting skills.
Moreover, the Indian pacer Akash Deep who batted as a Tailender in the Brisbane test scored (31 runs in 1 inning), and managed to accumulate more runs than the Hitman (29 runs in 3 innings) in the current test series. This is also one of the main reasons that leaves him under tremendous pressure to return to form.
Ahead of the Australian tour, Rohit managed to score just 133 runs in 10 innings. It includes his highest score of 52 with a subpar average of 13.33, despite playing all five tests at home (two vs Bangladesh and three vs New Zealand).
5 Instances When Rohit Sharma Sustained Injury Scares in the Nets
Here are the five instances when Rohit Sharma suffered different types of injury scares during his career in the nets that frightened the entire team:
- Left Thigh Injury: Practice Session Before the T20I series vs Bangladesh in 2019
- Right Forearm Injury: Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 Semi-Final Match vs England.
- Left Thumb Injury: Before the World Test Championship 2023 Final Match vs Australia.
- Biceps Injury: During the T20 World Cup 2024 Group Stages Match vs Ireland.
- Knee Injury: Ahead of the Fourth Test in BGT 2024-25.
Is Rohit Sharma Ruled out of the Boxing Day Test BGT 2024-25 After Facing an Injury Scare? Final Opinion
As the injury isn’t too severe, Rohit Sharma wouldn’t be ruled out of the fourth test in the BGT 2024-25. But, it was certainly an unpleasant moment he had to deal with.
However, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) hasn’t provided any update about the captain’s injury.
Meanwhile, the sports journalist Ankar Kar posted on his X handle saying that the veteran batter is completely fine. He was spotted walking with ease after the physios removed the ice packs on his knee.
There were speculations that the T20 World Cup 2024 winning captain would miss out on the fourth test comparing Shubman Gill’s finger injury that forced him out of the action for the opening test.
These types of injuries are common while playing cricket. It is upto the player’s fitness levels on how they overcome such blows to continue performing consistently for their team.
Finally, it is understood that to satisfy the higher-level demands and overcome criticism, Rohit Sharma has undergone immense pressure by trying to regain his top form by frequently practicing in the nets which led to an injury scare.