'Writing on the wall': Fans turn on India after devastating setback
Cricket fans are writing off India in numbers after the latest blow to the visitors, ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
India paceman Mohammed Shami has a broken arm and is set to miss the remainder of the Test series in Australia, according to reports in his homeland.
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Shami had scans in Adelaide after copping a Pat Cummins delivery on his lower right arm while batting in the first Test.
He retired hurt as India crashed to 36 all out and didn't take the field as Australia banked an eight-wicket win.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) and Crincinfo both reported that scans revealed a fracture in Shami's right arm.
"Mohammed Shami has a fracture and the chances of him taking part in the remaining three Test matches is next to nil," a BCCI source told PTI, the agency is reporting.
Uncapped quick Mohammed Siraj is the leading contender to replace Shami for the Melbourne Test starting on Boxing Day.
The tourists must also replace captain and star batsman Virat Kohli, who is returning home to be at the birth of his first child.
Fans say while Kohli's scheduled absence is undoubtedly a big blow, the loss of Shami will be more difficult for India to cover.
As such, many fans are already writing off India's chances in the four-Test series, with some predicting a 4-0 series whitewash to the Aussies.
Virat Kohli's absence is a worry and to add to that Md shami is out of d series. Bumraah can't alone win India test matches.. India will struggle to pick up 20 wickets in the remaining tests.. The best chance India had amongst d 4 venues was in Adelaide. Writing on d wall!! 4-0
— RAM AGARWAL (@HereIamRam) December 20, 2020
Now even God can't save India from losing. You don't have shami, virat, Rohit, shikhar, bhuvneshwar and your fielding is bad, you can't catch the ball and you are expecting them to win 👏
— Rakesh (@cool607) December 20, 2020
Great loss for india no shami
— arjun (@arjun21323540) December 20, 2020
Crap. Between 36 all out + no Kohli + no Shami, it's going to take a miracle to avoid a 4-0 whitewash for India. We have the batters if they come good, but who can take Shami's place in the bowling lineup? #INDvsAUS
— Shaunak Kashyap (@shaunak) December 20, 2020
Kohli out nd now Shami out India is gonna suffer baaadddd😂😂
— randomtwiterbloke (@ahnafanam06) December 20, 2020
Shami out of the series. If India could’ve won the series it would’ve been because of the bowling. Ishant was a big loss but now Shami an even bigger one. #AUSvIND
— Arup Ghose (@arup_ghose) December 20, 2020
Its difficult now for india to secure draw also.. with shami also ruled out.. too much on bumhra n ashwin probably...
— vishwas rao (@vishrao) December 20, 2020
Also with Shami gone, it's going to be a long tour for India. 10 bucks says Australia winning 4-0!!
— Jatin Kumar (@jatin_papreja) December 20, 2020
Anyone here who thinks India still has a chance to win the series? (With no Virat, Ishant and Shami)
I would love to see some positivity and Optimism here.— Kanav Bali🏏 (@Concussion_Sub) December 20, 2020
Sorry .. We hv no chance but our team will fight 😊 High hopes with younster /Bumrah
— Dinesh 🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@IIndia_2020) December 20, 2020
Indian selectors could also axe opening bat Prithvi Shaw, who made a duck and four in Adelaide when twice bowled while attempting a defensive shot.
KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are in the frame to be summoned to top-six slots in the batting order.
Regardless of the potential changes, Kohli called for calm amid a backlash in India to their Adelaide debacle.
"We definitely don't feel like we are able to be getting bowled out so cheaply ...on a regular basis," Kohli said after the first Test.
"So I don't think it is anything alarming. We can very well sit here and make a mountain out of a molehill.
"But it's basically looking at things in the right perspective and knowing what we need to do as a team moving forward ... rather than going too much into the past and what has happened.
"We learn from our mistakes and we move forward."
with AAP
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