Prithvi Shaw has been ruled out of the first Test against Australia in Adelaide after suffering an ankle injury while attempting to take a catch on the deep midwicket boundary on the third day of the tour match against the Cricket Australia XI in Sydney.
Shaw got under the catch - from a lofted shot by Max Bryant - but went over on his left ankle as he tried to keep himself inside the boundary. He stayed down on the ground as the India physio raced across to assess him and was then carried off the field into the changing rooms looking in significant pain before going to hospital for scans having been driven around the boundary on a cart.
He later returned on crutches and by mid-afternoon confirmation that he was out of at least one Test came through. With the second Test in Perth starting four days after Adelaide is due to finish it could be touch and go whether he will be fit by then.
"Shaw underwent scans this morning and the reports revealed a lateral ligament injury," a BCCI statement said. "Shaw will be unavailable for the first Test against Australia in Adelaide. He will undergo an intensive rehabilitation program to hasten the recovery."
Shaw was taking time to come to terms with the injury according to R Ashwin. "He is feeling a bit sore and it has swollen up a little bit. it's sad that it happened the first time he came out on the field. I hope he recovers fast. He has not spoken much. It has hit him pretty hard. He's young boy who has come to play in Australia for the first time, had a dream start to his test career, so it's hit him pretty hard.
"It's unfortunate what's happened, but these things happen. You must have heard these clichés before, but these things do happen and it's an opportunity for someone else. I believe everything happens for a reason."
It is a significant blow to India as Shaw was pencilled in as one of the openers while India debate who partners him, either KL Rahul who failed in the first innings at the SCG or the recalled M Vijay.
Shaw was in sparkling form on the second day at the SCG as he struck a boundary-laden 66 and his arrival in Australia has created much excitement with comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar. He made a superb start to his Test career against West Indies were he scored 237 runs in three innings including a stunning century on debut in Rajkot.
After his eye-catching display yesterday, India's batting coach Sanjay Banger lauded Shaw's temperament and ability to adapt at such a young age.
"In whichever format he's played he's made a mark straightaway," he said. "Wherever he has played he has shown he can adapt to conditions and the stage as well. He plays with a lot of clarity and the impressive thing about him is he gets into good position. The fearlessness of youth probably helps him."
If India do decide to call up a replacement as cover it would probably be between Shikhar Dhawan, who was dropped after the tour of England, or the uncapped Mayank Agarwal.