Ishant Sharma & Gautam Gambhir Out Of Second Test

Ishant Sharma & Gautam Gambhir Out Of Second Test

Gautam Gambhir (right) will miss the second and final Test in Bangalore

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (INDIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

India will go into the second and final Test against Australia, which begins in Bangalore on 9th October, missing opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Ishant Sharma.

Both players have knee injuries which will prevent them from playing while batsman VVS Laxman, whose unbeaten 73 guided India to a nerve-wracking one-wicket win in the opening match in Mohali, remains a doubt due to the back injury that meant he batted with a runner.

Sharma failed to impress with the ball in Australia's first innings before picking up the injury, but he was able to take three wickets in Australia's second innings and then score a career-best 31 as he added 81 with Laxman for the ninth wicket during the successful run chase.

 “Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma have been ruled out of the Bangalore Test against Australia, on account of injuries to their right knees," an Indian board (BCCI) statement confirmed.

“The All-India Selection Committee has picked Abhinav Mukund and Jaydev Unadkat in their place."

Both replacement players were recently in action playing in the Irani Trophy, where Mukund scored 161 and 63 and Unadkat took four wickets during a 361-run win over Mumbai.

Mukund has scored nine first-class centuries in 29 matches, playing for Tamil Nadu, South Zone, Rest of India and India A while left-arm fast bowler Unadkat has played just four first-class matches, taking 21 wickets for Rest of India, India A and the Indian Board President's XI.

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