India vs Australia | Ravichandran Ashwin a doubt for final Test in Sydney

01/02/2019

Ravichandran Ashwin has failed the fitness test and will be a doubt for the fourth and final Test at the SCG in India's ongoing tour in Australia. The veteran off-spinner had earlier suffered a side strain during the first Test in Adelaide because of which he has missed the past two games.

India took a 2-1 lead in the ongoing four-match Test series against Australia as they came one step closer to achieving their target of winning their first-ever series on Australian soil in the coming week. However, Virat Kohli & Co. will be without the services of off-spinner Ashwin for the fourth and final game of the series that will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Ashwin suffered a side strain during the series opener in Adelaide that had forced the KXIP captain to sit out for the next two games. However, BCCI have announced that a final call on Ashwin’s selection will be taken on the morning of the SCG Test. Indian Captain, Virat Kohli, said Ashwin's unavailability was a big blow to the visitors.

"It's unfortunate that he's had two niggles that are quite similar in the last couple of away tours. It's something he will focus on to correct.

"The physio and trainer have spoken to him about what he has to do. He's very important for sure. In Test cricket he's a vital part of this team and we wanted him to be 100 percent fit for a longer period to that he can come back to us in the Test format. He is very disappointed that he's not able to recover in time," Kohli said in a pre-match press meet, reported Cricket Australia .

Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who featured in the MCG win and picked up five wickets in the process, is set to hold on to his spot in the matchday squad. Ravi Shastri and Kohli could also opt for a part-time spinner and batsman in Hanuma Vihari as a wicket-taking option for the team in Sydney.

"The Ashwin factor, it does make you alter your plans a little bit. But Vihari was bowling beautiful whenever he got the ball. Vihari has looked like picking up a wicket every time he comes on to bowl. We are looking at him as a solid bowling option now, especially in this Test match,"Kohli added.

The Indian team will also be without the services of middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma, who has left the squad in order to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.

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India vs Australia | Ravichandran Ashwin a doubt for final Test in Sydney

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