India will be without their star wicket-keeping batsman Rishabh Pant for the highly anticipated Test series against Australia in just over three weeks' time.
Pant survived a car crash on December 30 on his way to see family in Roorkee and was airlifted to Mumbai to be assessed by specialist surgeons.
It was found that Pant tore his ACL, PCL and MCL in the crash and will have to wait six weeks before going ahead with the reconstruction.
It is understood that his PCL and MCL have already undergone reconstruction but the six-week wait is for the ACL surgery.
While there is no confirmed timeline for his return, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) estimate at least six months on the sidelines.
Pant will not only miss the Australia series starting February 9, but the entire IPL season and the World Test Championship final, which India hopes to reach.
Selectors have included KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan as potential wicket-keeper replacements and India will have a chance to trial both players during the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in a week's time.
With the ODI World Cup taking place in India during October-November, Pant's injury may impact his chances of selection and may consequently affect India's chances of World Cup glory.
