Injured Vihari out of last Test, unlikely for Eng series; Shardul likely in place of Jadeja

India's injury woes in Test series against Australia compounded on Monday after hero of ir drawn game in Sydney, Hanuma Vihari, was ruled out of fourth and final match with a hamstring tear that could keep him out of action for a considerable time.

It has been learnt that Vihari was taken for scans after match got over and reports are expected by late evening in Sydney or Tuesday morning.However, a BCCI source confirmed to PTI that Vihari is unlikely to be fit in time for next Test match starting in ar three days' time. Andhra player scored 23 off 161 balls in an exhausting performance to save match with Ravichandran Ashwin.

" extent of Vihari's tear can only be ascertained after scan reports come through. But even if it's a grade 1 tear, he is out for at least four weeks and n will need some rehabilitation time. So it's t only Brisbane Test but also, he won't be a part of England Tests at home," a senior source revealed on Monday.

Indian team won't be missing Vihari to that extent against England as in a home series, re was little chance of him making it to first XI with an extra bowler always being preferred option.Vihari will again be required on seaming tracks in England where an extra batsman will certainly be a part of playing XI.As far as Vihari's replacement is concerned, team only has two options -- eir to play Wriddhiman Saha as a wicketkeeper and Rishabh Pant purely as a batsman or bring in Mayank Agarwal as a middle-order batsman who can take on second new ball.

As of w, re is little or chance of an out of form Prithvi Shaw being considered in playing XI.It is learnt that both Vihari and Pant, who played a career-defining 97-run kck on Monday, were given multiple pain-killers so that y could carry on.

In ar important development, Shardul Thakur, with way more first-class experience and better batting abilities compared to rookie Thangarsu Natarajan, is likely to replace an injured Ravindra Jadeja in Brisbane on a track that is supposed to be bounciest of series.

Shardul was also in contention to play second Test of his career in Sydney but Navdeep Saini's pace on a placid track became a clincher.

However, with Jadeja's injury, Indian team will have option but to play one among Shardul and Natarajan with former being favourite at moment. 

(IM CREDITS:Twitter/@Hanumavihari)