The Indian team management finally announced that pace bowler Ishant Sharma has contracted chikungunya and is unavailable for the first Test
Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma
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Kanpur: The Indian team management finally announced that pace bowler Ishant Sharma has contracted chikungunya and is unavailable for the first Test. It was known unofficially that he was unwell and would not be fit for the first Test. The selectors have decided not to have any replacement, and thus the squad has been reduced to 14 members.
Head coach Anil Kumble said "Ishant's health is being monitored and though he is not fit for the first Test, the selectors have decided not to replace him, thus we are now a 14-member squad"
Kuldeep Yadav at nets
The Indian camp has called up three net bowlers including two left-arm pacers, Pradeep Sangwan of Delhi and Aniket Choudhary of Rajasthan. They have been bowling to the Indian batsmen in the nets for the last two days to counter the threat posed by Kiwi pacer Trent Boult. They have also had chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav to bowl at them in the nets. Yadav, the highest wicket-taker in the day/night Duleep Trophy last week, was expected to get a call-up, but missed the bus as the selectors persisted with leg-spinner Amit Mishra.
Neesham out with rib injury
As if the bowling spearhead Tim Southee returning home with ankle injury wasn't enough, the Kiwis suffered another setback when all-rounder Jimmy Neesham was ruled out of first Test due to a rib injury. The double blows have reduced New Zealand's arsenal. Luckily for the Kiwis, the pitch at Kanpur has the reputation of aiding the spinners, and so they would go in with three spinners. Left-arm seamer Trent Boult would be their main pace bowler, but he would surely miss his partner Southee at the other end.
Only 3000 tickets sold
Despite the UPCA lowering the price of the tickets considerably, out of 13,000-odd tickets that have been put on sale, only 3000 are sold so far. Though a Test match is being played after seven years in Kanpur, there is no great rush to buy — tickets.
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