India could well be forced to chase down a mammoth fourth-innings total with nine batsmen after Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja suffered injuries while batting on day three of the third Test.
Aus. vs. India third Test | Australia reach 103/2 at stumps on Day 3, lead by 197 runs
The Hindu understands that the left-handed duo “will bat only if required” . Pant took a blow to his elbow off a Pat Cummins short ball. Jadeja was later struck on his left thumb by a Mitchell Starc scorcher. Neither took the field for Australia’s second essay.
While the team spokesperson revealed both were “taken for scans”, The Hindu has learnt that Jadeja has a “dislocated thumb” and is likely to miss the fourth Test. The all-rounder will risk batting only if the game is alive.
Pant, however, doesn’t have a fracture and could bat in India’s second innings.
Wriddhiman Saha kept wickets as substitute in Pant’s absence, but Jadeja’s left-arm spin will be missed, with the Sydney pitch starting to behave awkwardly.
Senior batsman Cheteshwar Pujara admitted Jadeja’s absence will be a major loss.
“It’s never easy to lose a bowler and someone like Ravindra, who got four wickets in the first innings.”
