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India star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to join the India Test squad this week ahead of the first Test against Australia in Nagpur, which begins on February 9, after proving his match fitness with a successful return to action in the Ranji Trophy.
Jadeja made a comeback in the Ranji Trophy and played his first match for Saurashtra in their final group-stage match against Tamil Nadu last week after undergoing knee surgery in September.
Overall, he bowled 41.1 overs and took eight wickets in the match, including a 7/53 from his 17.1 overs in the second innings, which gave him confidence that he is ready for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy.
After that performance, the 34-year-old all-rounder, who was selected in India’s Test squad for the Australia series subject to clearing fitness tests, said that he was hopeful and “good to go” for the Australia series.
One of the BCCI’s physios travelled with Jadeja to monitor his fitness closely. However, he is now back at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to complete his final round of fitness tests, a report said.
Jadeja played his last Test match against England in July 2022 in the one-off Test in Birmingham. During the Asia Cup in late August last year, he experienced discomfort in his right knee and was later ruled out of the T20 World Cup as well due to his knee surgery.
Despite getting named in the squad for a two-match Test tour of Bangladesh, Jadeja’s selection was subject to fitness, which eventually ruled him out of the series. With his rehab getting extended, he was also ruled out of the white-ball home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
But as soon as he got the green light from the NCA, the selectors felt Jadeja could play in the Ranji Trophy to determine his match fitness for the upcoming Australia series, which is crucial for India’s chances to secure a place in the World Test Championship final.
On the other hand, India middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is yet to get a fitness clearance as he continues his recovery from a stiff back at the NCA in Bengaluru.
Iyer, who was ruled out of the recent ODI series against New Zealand with a stiff back, has to spend a little more time at the NCA before getting his fitness clearance. It has been learnt that the batter was given an injection recently at the NCA to help combat swelling in his lower back.
If he gets his clearance, the 28-year-old Iyer is a frontrunner for a middle-order spot against Australia. However, in his absence, the other strong contender who can get an opportunity is Suryakumar Yadav, who is yet to make his Test debut.
It is understood that Iyer remains optimistic and is on course towards being declared fit, but the BCCI’s medical staff wants to be certain that the cricketer has no pain in his back before he is cleared to travel to Nagpur and join India’s preparatory camp, which begins on February 2.
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