Ishant Sharma Suffers Ankle Injury Ahead Of New Zealand Test Squad Announcement

India have suffered a huge blow ahead of their tour of New Zealand as their senior-most pacer Ishant Sharma has hurt his ankle badly just before the announcement of the Test squad. While the selectors have already announced the T20I squad, they are expected to announce the Test and ODI squad within this week.

India will play five T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests in the Kiwiland. The tour will kickstart with the T20I series on January 24. Ishant Sharma suffered the injury on Monday while bowling for Delhi against champions Vidarbha in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. The extent of the 31-year-old’s injury is not known but Ishant looked in real pain as he hobbled off the ground with the help of support staff, according to Indian Express.

The injury happened in the fifth over of Vidarbha’s second innings and Ishant Sharma’s third over. Ishant Sharma suffered the injury when he slipped while appealing vociferously for a lbw decision. As soon as he slipped, he was in pain and needed immediate medical help before leaving the field. The veteran pacer had taken three wickets for 45 runs in Vidarbha’s first innings.

Missing Ishant Sharma for such a challenging tour will be a huge blow for India. The Delhi star was the Man of the Match in India’s last Test assignment which was the historic pink-ball Test against Bangladesh in November. India will be hoping that the injury is not serious and the 96-Test veteran recovers in time for the Test series which stars on February 21.

The ongoing game against Vidarbha was going to be his last appearance in the Ranji Trophy before the New Zealand tour. His next outing is supposed to be a practice match in Hamilton but in case the injury turns out to be serious, he will be going to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for rehabilitation.

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