The ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has not even started, but the Indian thinktank is already facing problems with injuries.
To make things worse, it is the bowlers, who are facing injury problems ahead of the mega ICC event. The Indian team may have a decent batting lineup, but bowling has been a major worry, especially in Australia, where they have been below par.
The three members of the Indian cricket squad that are expected to represent India in the World Cup, Ishant Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are scheduled to undergo fitness tests on 7 February.
With their participation still not 100 percent sure, the BCCI has advised the team management to ask Mohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni to stay back in Australia for the team's World Cup preparatory camp starting on Tuesday in Adelaide, reported DNA India.
Both players were excluded from the final 15-member squad for the World Cup, but they were included in the ODI tri-series in Australia.
Mohit has put forward a good claim to be the first choice replacement with two wickets against England in the tri-series.
Ishant is one of the key bowlers for the Indian side with experience on his side as well, but the bowler has been injury-prone. The Delhi bowler has not played since the third Test owing to a knee problem.
The future of these players would depend on the fitness test, which will be conducted by team physio Nitin Patel. If declared unfit, the Indian team could be in a huge spot of bother, especially with Ishant, whose injury is said to be a serious one as compared to Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar, who are expected to be passed fit.
The fitness issue does not end with bowlers, as Rohit Sharma, India's opener, only featured during the opening tri-series game against Australia and did not participate any further in the tournament.
But, the Indian batsman is expected to be fit for the first warm-up game against Australia on 8 February, as he is said to be close to full fitness.
