India's Test wicketkeeper, Wriddhiman Saha now has a shoulder injury after a thumb fracture kept him out of the historic Test v Afghan recently; Oz tour chances in jeopardy too
India's wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha. Pic/AFP
Wriddhiman Saha's shoulder injury has put a big question mark over the injury management process of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and like it is often the case in Indian cricket — there exists a shortage of transparency. The wicketkeeper-batsman from Bengal was believed to be nursing a thumb injury that he sustained during the last IPL, causing his absence in the historic recent India v Afghanistan Test at Bangalore, his third injury lay-off in 18 months.
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Far too serious
However, it has now come to light that Saha's injury woes are far more serious. "Till he injured his thumb, he did not realise that he also had a shoulder injury. He played the IPL with an injured shoulder. The injury has now been aggravated and has put his career on the line," a source close to Saha told mid-day yesterday. "Not having a clue as to what lies ahead of him is frustrating. He does not know when he can resume any cricketing activity," the source added. Saha, 33, may even miss out on the tour of Australia towards the end of this year.
'Bad phase'
Meanwhile, Saha posted a message by Team Wriddhi on Twitter which said, "We are going through a bad phase and crisis." Saha's injury fiasco has also put the spotlight on BCCI's rehab process at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. "Wriddhiman's rehabilitation has been a complete goof-up. The NCA physio has bungled. Only a surgery can put him back on track. Once he is done with surgery, he will not touch the bat for at least two months and then rehab will start," a senior BCCI official told PTI.
The BCCI official admitted that the Bengal stumper had long recovered from the thumb fracture sustained during IPL. "Wriddhi first sustained a shoulder injury during the tour of South Africa while taking a catch. But it was a niggle that didn't bother him. He left the SA tour because of a hamstring trouble and not shoulder pain though," the official claimed. "Since wicketkeepers don't need to throw from the deep, Wriddhi didn't bother and played the IPL with that injury. But the pain didn't go away. He hoped he could play against England with a good rehab at NCA but training under a senior physio at NCA aggravated the shoulder," the official alleged. The question is whether the physio, a former support staff member of the Indian team, had provided a report about the true extent of Saha's injury.
03 - No. of Test matches Wriddhiman Saha has missed this year due to injury
Also read: Wriddhiman Saha to undergo shoulder surgery, rehab plan under scanner
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