Mayank Agarwal, who was tipped to open India’s innings against England, has been ruled out of the first Test after suffering a concussion during a training session in Nottingham on Monday.
“Agarwal was hit on the helmet while batting during India’s nets session at Trent Bridge on Monday,” the BCCI said in a statement. “The BCCI Medical Team assessed him, and a concussion test was conducted.
Stable
“He has shown signs of concussion and is ruled out of the opening Test. The 30-year-old is stable and will remain under close medical observation.”
The Hindu has learnt that Agarwal was hit on the helmet by a Mohammed Siraj bouncer at the nets.
Agarwal’s injury two days ahead of the first Test has added to the uncertainty over Rohit Sharma’s opening partner.
Front-runner
After Shubman Gill’s return to India, having aggravated a shin injury during the World Test Championship final, Agarwal was the front-runner to walk out with Rohit.
During the three-day tour game in Durham last month, Rohit and Agarwal had opened the first innings while Cheteshwar Pujara had partnered Agarwal in the second.
Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav, who were added to the squad as back-up, are set to arrive in London on Tuesday.
They have completed the mandatory isolation after being identified as close contacts of Krunal Pandya, who tested positive, in Colombo.
Shaw, Suryakumar to quarantine again
But the duo will have to quarantine again after arrival and are set to be unavailable for the first two Tests.
As a result, it will be interesting to see whether K.L. Rahul, who scored a century batting at No. 5 in the tour game, is preferred over reserve opener Abhimanyu Easwaran in Nottingham.
Mayank has shown signs of concussion and is ruled out of the opening Test, the BCCI said in a statement
The 30-year-old will remain under close medical observation, it added
