Injured Rohit may be out for long

MUMBAI: Star batsman Rohit Sharma could be out of competitive cricket for two to three months if doctors advise him to go under the knife after the right-hander sustained a thigh injury on the right leg, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said.

Rohit injured himself while taking a single during the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand at Visakhapatnam on October 29.

"BCCI medical team confirms that India batsman Rohit Sharma sustained an injury on his right upper quadriceps tendon, during the fifth and final match of the fivematch One-day series against New Zealand in Vizag on October 29," the BCCI said in a statement. He will travel to London early next week 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."

"The BCCI medical team will extend all support to Rohit Sharma, to regain full fitness and further contribute to Indian cricket," the statement added.

Earlier, the BCCI selection committee has already left the 29-year-old batsman out of the India squad for the Test series against England, starting on November 9 at Rajkot.

India will play five Tests against the English side, followed by three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals

Meanwhile, captain Jason Holder has urged his West Indies side to "stay hungry" after they broke a prolonged slump to beat Pakistan by five wickets in the third and final Test to post their first Test win in 19 months.

The all-rounder said the West Indies had the makings of a very good unit, but stressed it was important to build on the Sharjah success and begin to produce more consistent performances in the future, reports CMC.

The West Indies completed an emphatic victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium when they easily chased down a modest target of 153. They resumed the final day on Thursday 114 for five, still requiring 39 runs for victory, but opener Kraigg Brathwaite and wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich both stroked 60 not out in stretching their overnight unbroken sixth-wicket stand to 87 to rule out any chance of defeat.

Holder, who was presiding over his first Test win, also called for the unit to be kept together as he believes they have the potential to become a dominant Test force.

"This is a very good group of guys. We've shown glimpses that we can compete, we've shown glimpses we have what it takes to compete at this level," said Holder.

"For us, it's just a matter of consistency. We mustn't get complacent. We have no reason to be complacent. One Test victory, by all means, is not enough. It's a situation where we have to stay hungry, and that's something I really believe we have in the group." IANS