India batsman Prithvi Shaw has been ruled out of the first Test against Australia after he twisted his left ankle during the tour match against Cricket Australia XI on Friday.
“Shaw underwent scans this morning and the reports revealed a lateral ligament injury. Shaw will be unavailable for the First Test against Australia in Adelaide. He will undergo an intensive rehabilitation program to hasten the recovery and be available for selection at the earliest,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Shaw injured his left ankle while attempting to take a catch at the boundary line earlier on Friday. The 19-year-old, who scored a half-century in the first innings and looked assured against the Cricket Australia XI bowling attack, was considered to be a certainty at the top of the Indian batting order given the struggles of other openers M Vijay and KL Rahul.
Shaw rolled his left ankle while attempting a high catch of opener Max Bryant at the midwicket fence. He had to be carried away from the field and was immediately sent for scans.
The Indian team management would now have to reassess their plans for the first Test depending on the result of the scans. The first Test starts on December 6 in Adelaide.