Fit-again Rohit Sharma to join India team

NEW DELHI: Key batsman Rohit Sharma has recovered from a hamstring injury and been cleared to join India’s tour in Australia, the national board said on Saturday.

Media reports said the 33-year-old will fly to Australia on Sunday to start the two weeks of quarantine that will see him miss the first two of the four Tests.

Sharma “completed his rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and is now clinically fit,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

The Mumbai Indians captain has been at the national centre since Nov 19 after suffering a left hamstring injury during the Indian Premier League.

“He had been given a detailed programme to follow during the two weeks he will be quarantined for in Australia,” the BCCI statement said.

Doctors will check Sharma’s fitness again after the quarantine and make a call on his participation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia are just ahead of India in the world rankings and the Adelaide game will be the visitors’ first day-night five-day game on foreign soil.

India’s batting will already be weakened by captain Virat Kohli leaving the tour after the first Test to return home for the birth of his first child.