Prince Yadav's Injury Forces Him To Walk Off The Field; Doubtful For IND Vs ZIM 3rd T20I?

Prince Yadav walked off the field during IND vs ZIM 2nd T20I [Source: AP]

In a massive setback for India, Prince Yadav sustained an injury in the ongoing T20I encounter against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. After India posted a daunting total of 220 runs, Prince Yadav rocked Zimbabwe with two crucial breakthroughs. 

Chasing 220, the Zimbabweans had a scratchy yet quick start, with Brian Bennett riding his luck to a rapid 19-ball 32. Prince broke the stand by dismissing Ben Curran before breaking Zimbabwe's backbone with Sikandar Raza's wicket. 

Prince Yadav's injury: When and how did it all happen?

Prince Yadav's stay in the middle was short-lived, as a hamstring injury forced him to walk off the field in the seventh over. The incident happened right after Sikandar Raza's dismissal, as Prince charged towards Wesly Madhevere to bowl the third ball of his second over. 

The right-arm speedster ran with great intensity, but failed to complete his run-up, sustaining a hamstring injury before he could deliver the ball. Prince suddenly pulled out of his run-up and clutched the back of his left leg. 

From the visuals, it was evident that Prince Yadav's injury was related to his left hamstring. The Indian team physio immediately rushed to the ground and had a brief conversation with the fast bowler before helping him all through his way back to the dressing room. 

Before making his way back to the hut, Prince Yadav registered excellent bowling figures of two for 10 in 1.2 overs. 

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Prince Yadav joins Harshit, Bumrah, Sundar, Chakaravarthy in India's injury list

Prince Yadav's injury made him the fifth bowler after Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakaravarthy to sustain a fitness setback amid India's ongoing white-ball cycle. 

Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy sustained hamstring injuries during the UK tour and subsequently missed the ODI series against England. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar were ruled out of the Lord's ODI against England due to knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. 

Thus, five prominent Indian players, including Prince Yadav, have entered the injured players' list since the commencement of the UK tour. If we further go back in time, Nitish Kumar Reddy was sidelined from the white-ball tours of Ireland and England due to a quadriceps injury. 

With veteran allrounder Hardik Pandya still recovering from a back injury, India are rapidly running out of quality resources in white-ball cricket. 

Will Prince Yadav miss IND vs ZIM 3rd T20I?

The Indian team management has yet to issue a statement on Prince Yadav's injury. However, given that he limped off the ground in pain, we reckon the Prince might certainly be doubtful for the third T20I between India and Zimbabwe. 

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Additionally, India won the first T20I comfortably and are well on track for a second consecutive victory in the series. If the Indian team wins the second T20I and takes an unassailable lead in the series, the Shreyas Iyer and VVS Laxman-led think tank will likely rest Prince for the final dead-rubber at Harare Sports Club. 

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