Ishant Sharma Doubtful For West Indies Series Due To Ankle Injury

India could miss the services of their pace spearhead Ishant Sharma in the upcoming Test series against West Indies. Ishant had injured his ankle in the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval.

Ishant left the field after bowling only one over on the fourth day and did not bowl thereafter.

According to reports, the lanky pacer has suffered an ankle stress fracture which is likely to keep him on the sidelines for at least a month. It effectively rules Ishant out of the West Indies Test series, starting immediately after the Asia Cup. Reports suggest that Ishant has already sought a medical opinion in London.

He is likely to take rest before undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Ishant was one of the standout bowlers for India against England, leading the Indian pace attack brilliantly. Ishant finished the series as the second leading wicket-taker behind James Anderson. The right-arm pacer picked 18 wickets from 5 games and also grabbed a 5-wicket haul in the first Test.

With India set to tour Australia this year, the team-management is unlikely to gamble on Ishant Sharma against West Indies who are not expected to give the hosts a stiff challenge.

India will host West Indies in October this year, taking on the visitors in two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals.

The series will start with the Tests just six days after the completion of the Asia Cup.

The seven-week series will start with Rajkot hosting the first Test on October 4. The full-fledged series will end with the third T20 in Chennai on November 11.

Schedule of West Indies tour of India:

Test series:

1st Test – October 4-8, Rajkot

2nd Test – October 12-16, Hyderabad