Indian body count grows as Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant sent for scans

The Indian squad has been hampered by several injuries this season, and their bad luck has continued at the SCG on Saturday.

Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant.

The Indian squad has been hampered by several injuries this season, and their bad luck has continued at the SCG on Saturday.

Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were taken for scans after suffering injury blows during India’s first innings.

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Pant was struck in the elbow while facing Pat Cummins in the afternoon session on day three of the New Year’s Test.

After a lengthy consultation with a team medic, the 23-year-old continued his innings before Josh Hazlewood eventually dismissed him for 36.

Ouch! Pant cops one on the elbow #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/26SAgfh6mV

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 9, 2021

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Soon after, Jadeja was hit on the finger by a short ball from Mitchell Starc, which also needed medical attention at the time.

Like his teammate, Jadeja batted through the pain and ended the innings undefeated on 28.

On Saturday afternoon, the BCCI confirmed Pant and Jadeja had left the venue for scans on their respective injuries.

Substitute wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha donned the gloves in the second innings, and claimed an early catch to remove Australian debutant Will Pucovski for 10.

Between 1980 and 2017, substitute fielders were not permitted to keep wickets in the case of an injury, but the MCC changed the contentious Law four years ago.

At one stage during the final session of play, India also had Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin off the field, leaving only two recognised bowlers in action.

A frustrating day of injuries #AUSvIND. Jadeja second player to be taken for scans after Rishabh Pant https://t.co/B6VpsSccnr

— Rica Roy (@cheerica) January 9, 2021

Injury woes continue for team India with Rishabh Pant and Ravi Jadeja sent for scans 🇮🇳🇦🇺 #AUSvIND

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) January 9, 2021

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Pant and Jadeja join a growing list of Indian casualties.

Veteran paceman Ishant Sharma was unable to fly to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a hamstring complaint.

Indian seamer Mohammad Shami was struck in the arm during the first Test in Adelaide, and was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the series.

Then at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, pace bowler Umesh Yadav walked off the MCG on day three after suffering a calf injury.

Opening batsman Rohit Sharma and Jadeja also missed Test matches this summer due to injury complaints.

“(Short-pitched bowling) is a tactic we use pretty consistently, particularly to the lower order,” Australian captain Tim Paine said on Wednesday.

“Playing the short ball at that pace is uncomfortable. If you’re someone who is perceived to have a weakness in that area, or even if you’re not, it’s part of the game.

“It’s how teams test your mettle, test what you’re made of.”