Indian batsman Rohit Sharma, who is set to miss the Test series against England due to a thigh injury, might undergo surgery after consulting a specialist in london next week, effectively ruling him out of the four-Test rubber against Australia early next year.
Rohit had sustained the injury during the Vizag ODI against New Zealand on October 29 and if the treatment requires a surgery, it will rule him out for 10-12 weeks, which means he will not be able to make a comeback by the time the series against Australia begins on February 23.
"He will travel to london early next week for specialist consultation with a possibility to undergo surgery, as a result of which, he is expected to miss at least 10 to 12 weeks of cricket. The BCCI medical team will extend all support to Rohit Sharma, to regain full fitness and further contribute to Indian Cricket," a BCCI release said.
Rohit, on his part, said the "picture is not clear" and only after a proper evaluation of his injury, something can be said about his comeback.
"I don't know (how much time I will miss cricket). Our BCCI medical team is in touch with doctors, the scans we have got till now have been sent to doctors, we are waiting for their opinion, whether to do surgery or not, if we do the surgery then how much time is needed," Rohit told reporters after the launch of Adidas Home Court store in suburban Bandra.
"The picture is fully not clear. I think in one or two days the picture will be more clear, whether it (surgery) is happening or not. It is an important decision if we do surgery. If I do the surgery, I cannot play for 3 to 3 and half months. We are waiting for the doctors' opinion, let's see what happens," the Mumbai player added.
Asked about the nature of his injury, Rohit said, "like you saw, while taking a run the muscle pulled up then I understood that I won't make it to the crease, so I dived, after that our physio told me that it was necessary to take a scan."
"The next two days was Diwali so all hospitals were closed, so we took the scan on (November) first and after that all the medical reports were given to BCCI medical team," he added.
Asked about the inclusion of all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the Test squad, Rohit, who has captained him in Mumbai Indians, said, "We are all waiting. I hope he gets his maiden Test cap, it will be good news for his fans, family and friends."
"He has got real talent, he bowls fast and he has got a good ability to come down the order and bat. He has done it for the state team. So I don't see any reason why he can't do it for his national team also.”
Rajkot to witness DRS system
Rajkot: The umpire Decision Review System (DRS), which BCCI was opposing for long, would be implemented here for the first time on a trial basis when India play their opening Test against England in the coming week.
The first Test of the five-match series between India and England is starting from November 9 and Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) is hosting it at SCA stadium Khandheri.
"Decision Review System (DRS) will be implemented during the Test match in Rajkot," Niranjan Shah, SCA honorary secretary was quoted as saying in a official press release issued by the SCA.
BCCI, after opposing DRS for such a long time has decided to use the system in upcoming Test series against England on trial basis.
"Though it would be on trial basis, this will be first ever bilateral test with all components and technology of the system including the ball tracking system being used during the match as well as the series," Shah said.
Shah claimed that Rajkot will become the first Test match centre to implement the DRS system for the first time in India.