Injury scare for Gambhir, Sehwag

In an injury scare just days before the Mohali Test, Gautam Gambhir was today hit on his right wrist by a delivery during Board President XI's game against Australia while Virender Sehwag was hit on his knee by an Ishant Sharma delivery.

In an injury scare, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was on Sunday rushed to a local hospital in Chandigarh after being hit on his right wrist by a delivery during Board President XI's game against Australia only to be discharged later without any problem.

HT Image

At nearby PCA Stadium at Mohali, which is to host India's first Test against Australia from October 1, Gambhir's opening partner Virender Sehwag was hit on his knee by an Ishant Sharma delivery.

The two incidents relating to the Indian cricket team members just days before the Mohali Test caused a minor scare, but things ended on a happy note.

First one happened inside Sector 16 cricket stadium here, where Australia is playing a three-day warm up game against the Board President’s XI.

Leading the B P XI side, Gambhir, who is making a comeback after an injury, got out to a rising delivery from Australian speedster Ben Hilfenhaus.

The ball hit him near the right hand wrist area making him shake his hand for a while before returning to the pavilion.

However, soon after there was a commotion of sorts as medical team at the Sector 16 stadium, comprising senior government doctors who were kept standby, rushed after being summoned.

A senior orthopedician from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here was also summoned and an ambulance was readied.

Gambhir was taken to Government Multi Specialty Hospital at Sector 16 here in the car of a senior doctor, his hand wrapped in an ice pack, but returned at the stadium after being given first aid.

"We did a MRI of his hand, but luckily there was no injury. We did not want to take any chances," a doctor, who accompanied Gambhir from the stadium to the hospital, said, adding there was nothing to worry about.

There was another scare when some Indian Test players, who reached in Chandigarh on Sunday, did some practice at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium at Mohali, near here.

A delivery bowled by speedster Ishant hit Sehwag on his right knee and he was immediately taken off and given medical assistance.

Sehwag later played down the incident. When asked after the net session if he was injured, Sehwag gave a wide smile and said "What knee".

The players, including Sachin Tendulkar, had an exhaustive three-hour practice session at the nets at the PCA stadium ahead of the first Test. of the two-match series against Australia starting there from October 1.