Team India has suffered a big blow in their 2022 Asia Cup campaign as star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury in his right knee. Axar Patel, who was named among the standbys will take Jadeja’s place in India’s 15-man squad.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that Jadeja is under the supervision of the board’s medical team. Axar will join the squad in Dubai soon. India are scheduled to play either of Hong Kong or Pakistan in their opening Super 4 match on Sunday (September 4) in Dubai.
Jadeja has played a key role in India’s win in their two group stage games. In the tournament against Pakistan, Jadeja played an important knock of 35 in 29 balls to help the Men in Blue get over the line in a tense last-over finish. In the clash against Hong Kong, Jadeja bowled an economic spell with the ball in which he gave away just 15 runs in four overs and ensured the associate nation had no chance of causing an upset. He also became India’s highest wicket-taker in Asia Cup history with 23 scalps to his name.
This injury is the latest of many that have troubled Jadeja in recent days. The veteran all-rounder had missed India’s ODI series against West Indies in July due to a knee issue too. There has been no clarification from the BCCI on whether this is the same injury or a new one.
A rib injury had ensured an early end to Jadeja’s campaign in 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings. Prior to that, he had missed India’s away tour to South Africa and home series against West Indies because of a ligament tear
India will be next seen in action in the continental showpiece event on Sunday (September 4) when they start their Super 4 campaign against either Pakistan or Hong Kong in Dubai.
India Asia Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan
