Ravindra Jadeja is all set to miss the fourth and final Test of the ongoing Australia tour, but a possibility of the all-rounder going out to bat on the final day at the SCG cannot be ruled out.
Jadeja couldn’t bowl during Australia’s second innings because of the thumb fracture, but if the need arises, he may take a painkiller-injection and go out to bat on Monday, sources said.
It will obviously take Jadeja a few weeks to recover from the fracture, so there is a question mark over his availability when India host England in their next international assignment.
The four-match Test series versus England begins with a double header in Chennai from February 5.
Along with Jadeja, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant too got hit during India’s first innings in this third Test. Pant suffered an elbow bruise. Hence Wriddhiman Saha came in as his substitute behind stumps.
However, Pant will be coming out to bat on the final day, confirmed Ravichandran Ashwin. “Pant will bat. His bruise was severe and painful, as the elbow a tricky place to deal with.
“Inside the dressing room we as a team haven’t spoken about things not going our way. In fact, we refrain from talking about these things because what’s not going our way is not going, as simple as that.
“Whatever has been thrown at us so far, we have responded in a warrior-like fashion and we hope to keep doing so,” Ashwin said.