IND v ENG 2024: Ruturaj Gaikwad expected to be fit in time for third Test against England- Report  

Gaikwad suffered a finger injury in South Africa ODIs.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Indian opener, has been out of action since injuring his finger in the second ODI during India’s tour of South Africa. However, reports have stated that the right-handed batter might get fit in time for the third India versus England Test match.

This match will be played in Rajkot from Feb 15-19, while the five-Test series begins on January 25 in Hyderabad.

“Ruturaj is recovering at the National Cricket Academy and should be fit after a week or 10 days. He will subsequently be available for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy. He is likely to be available for selection after the second Test of the series,” a source told TOI.

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Gaikwad has played 6 ODIs and 19 T20Is for India thus far and made 615 runs in all with one fifty in ODIs and a century and three fifties in T20Is.

While the BCCI selectors are yet to name the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England, Bengal’s Abhimanyu Easwaran is set to get a lifeline in India’s squad against England as a back-up opener, with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal being the frontline openers.

Easwaran will captain India A in a two-day warm-up game on January 12-13 and then in a four-day first-class fixture on January 17-20, both in Ahmedabad.

(Times of India inputs)