Injury-stricken affair

Despite enjoying a great outing in Visakhapatnam against the English lsquobazballersrsquo injury woes surrounding the Indian unit have become an area of concern for the team management It all began with KL Rahul who was ruled out of the third Test after sustaining a quadricep injury He was soon followed by Ravindra Jadeja and the latest member to be inducted in the injury list was middleorder batter Shreyas IyerNow in what could be an unfortunate blow for the side just three days ahead of the third Test Rahul is learnt to have not yet recovered from his injury and is most likely to be dropped in Rajkot as wellInjuries within the Indian squad have dealt a significant setback of late posing a substantial impediment to senior playersrsquo optimal performance This has in turn cast a formidable shadow over the teams prospects months ahead of the T20 World Cup The absence of key players due to injuries against a challenging opposition like that of England represents a substantial blow to say the least necessitating strategic adjustments and placing a heightened demand on the teams resilience and adaptability in moments of distressldquoA playerrsquos injury is not in our hands They are senior fellows we canrsquot risk losing them And in such cases it is always our medical team that gives the final nod as you may know KL is still far from being completely fit Canrsquot comment on Iyer right nowrdquo a BCCI source told MidDay on conditions of anonymity On Monday indications were strong that Rahuls participation in the third test hangs over the team like a cloud of uncertainty and that the BCCI selectors and the team management are waiting to see the results of a final diagnosis Despite several attempts no official word came out from either of themAlso Read lsquoThricersquo as badThe same old fitness story or more appropriately the lack of it appears to have returned to haunt Indias preparations at a time when the playersrsquo performances in a highly competitive league like the IPL will have an added heft due to the impact it will have on the team selection ahead of the World Cup this JuneMeanwhile talismanic batter Virat Kohli put an end to the evergrowing speculation around his availability for the remainder of the Test series ldquoVirat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons The Board fully respects and supports Mr Kohlirsquos decisionrdquo the BCCI said in a release The former captain is currently abroad for personal family mattersldquoYes it was almost clear that he wonrsquot feature in the series The board respects his decision and he can attend to his family matters and come back only when it is convenient for him Naturally the board already had plans in storerdquo added the sourceNow when the rest of the players start descending in Rajkot for the third Test the focus is certainly going to be on the fitness of those on the bench who have been struggling with injuries during the series and in the pastIn cricket where the margin between victory and defeat is razorthin the importance of a fully fit and harmonious squad cannot be overstated enoughEach player is a crucial cog in the machinery contributing not only with their individual brilliance but also as an integral part of the collective strategy In this context the news of injuries permeating through the Indian squad resonates as a disconcerting note prompting a reevaluation of the teams overall strength and preparednessAs 14 billion Indians watch with bated breath the resilience of this squad will be under the spotlight and how they respond to these adversities will shape not only their campaign in the tournament but also the collective memory of a nation that breathes and lives cricket