India vs Bangladesh: Captain Rohit Sharma unlikely to play 2nd Test in Dhaka

Rohit Sharma had flown back to Mumbai to consult an expert after he suffered a thumb injury while fielding at the slip cordon during the 2nd of a 3-match ODI series.

Rohit batted braving an injury and hit an 28-ball 51 not out after coming into bat at No. 9 but India fell short of a 272-run target by 6 runs.

Rohit missed the 3rd ODI and returned to India and the BCCI named Abhimanyu Easwaran as the replacement for the skipper. The Indian cricket board also said a call on Rohit’s availability would be taken at a later stage.

However, news agency PTI said Rohit is still in pain due to soreness in his thumb and will not return to Bangladesh to lead India in the 2nd Test, starting December 24 at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.

India captain Rohit Sharma is unlikely to play the 2nd and final Test of their series in Bangladesh as he is yet to recover from the thumb injury that he picked up during the ODI series earlier in December. Rohit missed the series opener in Chattogram and KL Rahul took over the captaincy duty as India went 1-0 up with a 188 runs.

“He is yet to travel to Dhaka for the second Test. His webbing is sore and there is still some pain. It is unlikely that he will play,” PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.

After the win on Sunday, Rahul had said that it would take a day or two to get the final word on Rohit’s fitness and availability.

“About Rohit, we may be able to know (his status) in the next day or two, even I am not aware of it,” Rahul had said.

Rahul will continue to lead India if Rohit does not return to the Test side for the series finale.

The Indian cricket board would not want to risk aggravating Rohit’s injury, considering a busy home season in which India will face Sri Lanka and New Zealand in limited-overs series in January 2023 before playing Australia in a 4-Test series at home.

India are in with a chance to reach the World Test Championship final.