Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that India's chances in the upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa have taken a huge blow after vice-captain Rohit Sharma was ruled out due to a hamstring injury on Monday (December 13).
He has expressed his concerns over Team India’s chances in the upcoming Test series in South Africa, starting on December 26 in Centurion, after a number of key players in the tourists’ camp, including Rohit, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, and Shubman Gill, were ruled out of the series.
Rohit's left hamstring injury resurfaced during the team's net session in Mumbai while taking throwdowns from Raghavendra (Raghu), and Chopra said it is a major setback for India ahead of South Africa, given his recent Test heroics. He is also doubtful for the ODI series that follows the Test matches.
The cricket analyst also sarcastically questioned whether India should plan to cancel the South Africa tour rather than field a second-string side following the string of injuries.
Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “Ravindra Jadeja unavailable, Axar Patel unavailable, Rahul Chahar unavailable, you don't have Shubman Gill and now they are saying that Rohit Sharma is also not there. I mean what is happening? Should we cancel the South Africa tour?”
He added, “Rohit Sharma is going to be a huge miss. If his tour is in doubt, India's chances are looking in doubt because who was your best Test batter in 2021. Why did you do well in England - Rohit was there with Rahul. Rohit has started loving Test cricket and he is enjoying leaving or defending.”
The former batter also highlighted that India is currently short of openers, as Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul are likely to open for India in the upcoming Test series after Rohit ruled out of the series.
Chopra further explained, “There are multi-fold problems. Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal had opened just now, KL Rahul was injured. I met KL Rahul recently and he said that he will be fine. You will see Mayank Agarwal opening along with him but who will be the third opener now?”
He signed off by saying, “We were saying that it has become a story of four or five openers and here Mayank Agarwal has become the second opener and KL Rahul the first. And we have reached the stage when Mayank Agarwal made his debut, in a space of few weeks. The Indian team becomes significantly weak.”
