Harmanpreet Kaur ruled out of Day-Night Test against Australia

Star Indian batter Harmanpreet Kaur has been ruled out of the historic Day-Night Test against Australia, set to get underway tomorrow, 30th September in Queensland. Harmanpreet sustained a thumb injury during practice ahead of the ODI series and was ruled out of the same. She was hopeful of gaining full recovery before the Test but skipper Mithali Raj in the pre-match conference confirmed that the middle-order batter is yet to gain peak fitness and won’t take the field in the iconic Test.

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Harmanpreet Kaur so far has represented India in three Tests, scoring 38 runs at a dismal average of 7.60 and picking up nine wickets. However, her stature has grown in the last few years after brilliant and consistent performances.

Harmanpreet Kaur now will be eyeing the T2OI series to get some game time on the Australian tour. The all-rounder will lead India in the three-match T20I series which follows the Test. The likes of Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh can replace Harmanpreet Kaur in the playing XI.

Meanwhile, Australia women too have injury concerns ahead of the match as Rachel Haynes will miss the match due to a hamstring injury. Beth Mooney, however, if fit and raring to go.

The Test will be India's first Day-Night Test, while Australia have played a match before against England in 2017. India played a Test against England earlier this year which ended in a draw. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma played well in that game but there was little contribution from the skipper Mithali Raj. With runs behind her, Raj will be keen to make an impact and get a big one.