India lose Ravi Ashwin, Rohit Sharma for second Test in Perth

India has suffered the loss of two of its big stars on the eve of the Second Test against Australia in Perth.

India's Rohit Sharma was absent from training after jarring his lower back while fielding and looks set to be replaced by Hanauma Vihari Picture: Rick Rycroft/AP

Hit by injury and greeted by an old fashioned green top on the eve of the Second Test, the Indian side has left the door open to playing four pacemen in Perth.

Stars Ravi Ashwin and Rohit Sharma have both withdrawn from the match.

The batsman, Sharma, was absent from training after jarring his lower back while fielding and looks set to be replaced by Hanauma Vihari who made his debut against England at The Oval earlier in the year but has not played since.

Ashwin, whose turn bothered the Australian top order in Adelaide, will almost certainly be replaced by all rounder Ravi Jadeja who has 185 Test wickets at 23.5 and averages 32 with the bat.

Two things favour Jadeja. Runs will be hard to come by in the second match and Australia’s left hand heavy batting line-up is vulnerable to left arm orthodox.

Jadeja scored two half centuries against Australia in the last two matches of the India series and took 9 wickets for the match in Ranchi.

Virat Kohli of India celebrates after Ravi Ashwin took the wicket of Usman Khawaja of Australia during day four of the First Test in Adelaide. Aswin is out of the Second test. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty

The other Indian option is seamer Umesh Yadav who would be best placed to exploit the bounce and grass on the new Perth Stadium wicket but the weather conditions are expected to make it hard going in the field which gives the spinner an advantage.

Captain Virat Kohli seemed unconcerned by the sight of the wicket yesterday.

“We’re not alien to pitches like these, we’ve played many times on these kind of wickets,” the skipper said. “It’s nothing new for us. We know what to expect on a pitch like this

“On a lively wicket with a lot of grass on it and the surface being hard you are as much in the game as the opposition. There is no favourites to begin a Test match. Whichever team plays well and is brave enough to tackle those conditions wins on tough wickets.

“We are definitely confident on the percentage of chances we have and we will build on that. Australia will be a strong team at their home conditions and on a wicket like Perth which probably offers you more than other pitches in Australia. As I said we have an equal chance in the game.”

Australia trail 1-0 and if they lose in Perth they cannot win back the Border Gavaskar Trophy.