The right-handed batsman Rohit Sharma sustained an injury to his right upper quadriceps tendon during the fifth One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand in Vizag. It was earlier reported that he might be ruled out for six to eight weeks, but the latest update from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suggests a longer lay-off.
"He will travel to London for specialist consultation with a possibility to undergo surgery, as a result of which, he is expected to miss at least 10 to 12 weeks of cricket, " BCCI confirmed.
"The BCCI medical team will extend all support to Rohit Sharma, to regain full fitness and further contribute to Indian Cricket," the press release added. Rohit, who is set to miss the entire England series, also appears doubtful for the one-off Test against Bangladesh in February and might face a race against time to be fit for the subsequent series against Australia. "I don't know (how much time I will miss cricket). Our BCCI medical team is in touch with doctors, the scans we have got till now have been sent to doctors, we are waiting for their opinion, whether to do surgery or not, if we do the surgery then how much time is needed," Rohit told reporters.
"The picture is fully not clear, whether it (surgery) is happening or not. It is an important decision if we do surgery. If I do the surgery, I cannot play for three to three and a half months. We are waiting for the doctors' opinion, let's see what happens," he added.
Rohit, who played in all three Tests against New Zealand in the recently-concluded series, has been in and out of the side in the longer format since making his debut in November 2013.
After starting out with back-to-back centuries against West Indies, he struggled for a couple of years with patchy form. With Virat Kohli adopting the ploy of playing with five frontline bowlers, Rohit's chances to make it to the starting XI were further dented. However, against New Zealand, he shined with the bat after they decided to play him at No 6. He responded by stroking 238 runs in five innings, at an average of 79.33.
