Rohit Sharma narrowly avoids an injury scare ahead of Boxing Day Test

The Border Gavaskar Trophy stands evenly poised at 1-1 after three Tests, making the Boxing Day Test at the MCG a pivotal encounter. Both India and Australia will aim to seize the lead, heading into the ultimate showdown in Sydney with a psychological advantage. At such a critical juncture, injury concerns are the last thing the visitors would want to face. During Sunday’s practice session at the MCG, multiple Indian players suffered minor blows. Following visuals of KL Rahul being struck on the arm, skipper Rohit Sharma was hit on the knee. However, in a reassuring update, none of the injuries appear to be serious, and the visitors are expected to field a fully strengthened squad for the Boxing Day Test.

Rohit Sharma fine despite being hit on his knee in the nets ahead of Boxing Day Test

On Sunday, less than a week before the Boxing Day Test, India's skipper Rohit Sharma was struck on his knee during net practice. The 37-year-old took a seat, and the team physio applied an ice pack to the area to prevent swelling, which could have worsened the situation. However, hours later, the captain was seen practicing with a baseball bat, indicating that the injury had subsided swiftly.

Not a good sign for India. Rohit Sharma with an ice pack after being hit by a ball on his left leg. Hopefully nothing too serious pic.twitter.com/iucXsK7qds

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) December 22, 2024

Additionally, Indian seamer Akash Deep confirmed that there were no major concerns within the camp despite the initial alarm. The seamer, a standout performer at the Gabba where he partnered with Jasprit Bumrah to avoid a follow-on, also sustained a blow during Sunday’s session as he worked on refining his batting skills in the nets.

Such blows are common when you play cricket," Akash Deep later that day. "I think this (practice) wicket was for white ball which is why the ball kept low at times. But these blows are common in training. There are no major concerns because of that," the seamer added.

A detailed version of the incident informed that Rohit was hit on his knee when an attempted pull shot misfired. He received immediate treatment, including elevating his leg and applying an ice pack. By the end of the session, Rohit seemed fine, walking around and engaging in casual conversations with teammates and coaching staff. Similarly, Akash Deep, who was struck on the arm while batting, confirmed during a press conference that there was no cause for alarm regarding either player's condition.