IND vs AUS: India suffer a blow as injured Ravindra Jadeja is out of the 4th Test

Ravindra Jadeja, on Saturday, added to India's injury woes as he suffered a thumb dislocation and is most likely to miss the fourth and final Test against Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane, starting Jan. 15.

On Day three of the ongoing third Test in Sydney, Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant sustained injuries after being struck by short balls from the Australian pacers. Both the players underwent scans soon after that. While Jadeja's Down Under tour may have ended, Pant is expected to bat in the second innings.

"Ravindra Jadeja has suffered a dislocation and fracture on his left thumb. It will be very difficult for him to wear those gloves and bat. In any case, he will be out of action for at least two to three weeks which rules him out of the final Test. Pant will be able to bat as his injury isn't that serious," a senior BCCI source told PTI on Saturday.

On Saturday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), India suffered the first blow when Pant was hit on the elbow off Pat Cummins' bowling. Reserve wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha replaced Pant as per the latest amendment in the ICC playing conditions.

"Rishabh Pant was hit on the left elbow while batting in the second session on Saturday. He has been taken for scans," the BCCI had earlier stated in a release.    

Pant, who was struck while playing a pull short ball from Cummins, was looking good during his knock of 36 off 67 in India's innings on Saturday. The Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman looked in pain and was attended immediately with some on-field treatment that included strapping a bandage. On his flow being broken, he soon fell to Josh Hazlewood.

Later in the day, the Aussies inflicted another blow on the Indian camp after Jadeja suffered a nasty blow on his left thumb. The all-rounder looked in pain and once Team India returned on the field for Australia's second innings, Jadeja threw a few balls. His thumb was taped before the team decided he would not continue in the SCG Test.

Coming into the New Year's Test at SCG, India had lost Ishant Sharma (before the series started), Mohammed Shami (forearm), Umesh Yadav (calf muscle), and KL Rahul (wrist) to various injuries. Captain Virat Kohli returned home on paternity leave after the opening Test, which the tourists lost. After two Tests, the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy is currently tied at 1-1.