Mumbai, March 17 – Indian skipper Virat Kohli did not take field Friday while recuperating from a shoulder injury on the second day of the third Test against Australia in Ranchi.
Kohli hurt his right shoulder while fielding on Thursday and went off in the afternoon session on the opening day, leaving vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane to lead the side in his absence.
Indian fans were devastated when local reports emerged suggesting Kohli had a ligament tear in his shoulder and was at risk to miss the rest of the series. But all was not what it seemed.
Updates on Kohli’s condition attributed to a doctor at a Ranchi hospital have turned out to be completely false, with the man who addressed the media outed as not being a doctor at all. In fact, he was a hospital “technician” whose job it is to push the buttons to turn MRI machines on and off, News Corp Australia’s Ben Horne reports.
Local journalists thought they had the scoop on Kohli but the man who pushes trolleys around the hospital had everyone fooled. Here’s what he told the eager news breakers.
“He (Virat) has suffered an injury in his right shoulder,” he said. “While the bones are intact, there is a ligament tear and he was having acute problems in hand movement. We have advised 15-20 days’ rest.”
That assessment was in stark contrast to India’s cricket board, who later said Kohli would be able to play in the match after scans revealed no “serious injury concerns” for their star batsman.
“He will continue to receive treatment, which will assist him to participate in the rest of the match,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement on Thursday night.
Although the 28-year-old was seen on Friday morning sitting inside the dressing room with his shoulder heavily strapped, a member of India’s team management told AFP that Kohli would bat in what is a crucial Test.
The good news continued for Australia early on day two in Ranchi.
Glenn Maxwell posted his maiden Test ton early on day two, giving the greatest indication yet he is ready to make the leap from Twenty20 sensation to Test cricketer. Maxwell finished 82 not out at stumps on Thursday’s opening day of the third Test between Australia and India in Ranchi.
The all-rounder, playing his first Test since 2014, had some nervous moments in the 90s but reached three figures early on day two with a cut shot, news.com.au reported.