The Indian cricket team suffered another massive blow as right-arm pacer Navdeep Saini complained of pain in his groin on the opening day of the fourth and final Test against Australia at The Gabba on Friday.
Saini visibly seemed to be in a lot of discomfort, holding onto his thighs, after his follow-through as he bowled his fifth delivery to Marnus Labuschagne in the 36th over of the Australian innings. Incidentally, it was the same delivery on which skipper Ajinkya Rahane dropped Labuschagne at gully.
The physio was brought on and the 28-year-old left the field after doing some stretches. Interestingly, Rohit Sharma bowled the final delivery to complete the over.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to their social media accounts to inform that Saini has been taken for scans and that he is currently being monitored by the medical team.
UPDATE - Navdeep Saini has now gone for scans.#AUSvIND https://t.co/pN01PVnFfx
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021
Meanwhile, Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne smashed a scintillating hundred on the first day of the Brisbane Test. The 26-year-old brought up his fifth century in Test cricket and his second at his home ground at The Gabba.
A home ground hundred to remember for @marnus3cricket! 🔥@hcltech | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ACcRzq3AiH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021
However, Labuschagne (108) was later dismissed by India debutant T Natarajan after the former miscued a pull shot.
Another wicket for T Natarajan and this time he's claimed the prized scalp of Marnus Labuschagne who falls for 108! #AUSvIND | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/IEd93JKFtg
— ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2021
Interestingly, India left-arm pacer had claimed his maiden Test wicket after he gave the visitors a crucial breakthrough to get rid of Matthew Wade for 45. Natarajan broke the 113-run stand between Labuschagne and Wade as he dragged India back into the Test.
First Test wicket for @Natarajan_91 👏.
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021
Wade departs for 45.
Live - https://t.co/bSiJ4wW9ej #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Q0kOX0YCmb
Earlier, Team India made as many as four changes in their playing XI which last featured in Sydney.
Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first in the 4th and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. We have four changes. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/87TrZAkA1Z
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2021
Jasprit Bumrah, Hanuman Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were left out because of their respective injuries and were replaced by debutants Washington Sundar and Natarajan, Shardul Thakur and Mayank Agarwal.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ BCCI
