Team India coach, Ravi Shastri, reckons that the injured duo of Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma needs to be on the flight to Australia as soon as possible if they’re to entertain hopes of featuring in the upcoming four-Test series, starting with the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, on December 17. Rohit and Ishant have been the frontrunners in all recent Indian successes in the red-ball format of the game and are currently undergoing rehabilitation for their respective injuries at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Rohit, India’s first-choice Test opener, is currently working on his hamstring injury while Ishant’s IPL with the Delhi Capitals came to an early end after suffering an abdominal muscle tear. Both players weren’t named in the initial squad (for the tour to Australia) and are understood to be under the observation of BCCI’s medical panel.