India fast bowler Umesh Yadav ruled out of the remaining two Test matches against Australia as he is all set to return to India, reports ANI.
The 33-year-old had limped off with severe pain in his calf muscle on day 3 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
According to the report, sources in the Indian camp confirmed that the seasoned pacer will now be aiming to recover in time for the England series in February.
"His scans came in and he will miss the third and fourth game. So, there was no point in holding him back and it is better that he returns to the country and undergoes rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He left on Wednesday night," the source told ANI.
The report further added that T Natarajan, who made his brilliant debut in the limited-over series against Australia, will replace Umesh Yadav in absence of limited options.
"With limited options available, the team management can ask for Natarajan to be added to the squad," the source said.
Yadav had played in both the opening two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, claiming four wickets while bowling 39.4 overs. The Vidarbha pacer had scalped three wickets in the Pink-Ball Test in Adelaide which India lost by eight wickets.
Interestingly, the veteran fast bowler was in the middle of an excellent spell at the MCG when he experienced pain in his left leg and called for immediate medical attention. He later limped back to the dressing room.
Umesh Yadav complained of pain in his calf while bowling his 4th over and was assessed by the BCCI medical team. He is being taken for scans now. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/SpBWAOEu1x
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 28, 2020
“Umesh Yadav complained of pain in his calf while bowling his 4th over and was assessed by the BCCI medical team. He is being taken for scans now,” the BCCI had stated on their social media accounts on Monday.
The Indian cricket team is already missing the services of their experienced duo of Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma who have been sidelined due to injuries in the four-match Test series.
