Ishant Shama has a fitness Test coming up to determine if he is going to be on the plane heading for New Zealand.
He suffered a ligament injury on his right ankle while playing Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy on January 21.
Initial reports suggested he would require six weeks of rest and rehab and the pacer is undergoing treatment under the supervision of the NCA.
"Ishant is scheduled to take a fitness test on Feb 14-15. A call on him will be taken after that," Indian team management sources told TOI on Tuesday.?
The selection committee had named Ishant in the Test squad with the rider that he would clear his fitness test. Ishant was supposed to travel to New Zealand on February 6 with Umesh Yadav.
"There are two ways of determining fitness: one is clinical fitness and the other is match fitness. In the clinical test, the player is made to go through all the physical tests like running and agility.?
But match fitness depends on how rusty the player is. Ishant is working very hard and is determined to reach the 100-Test mark as soon as possible," added the source.
It will be interesting to see how much the team management wants to push Ishant even if he manages to clear the clinical test.
Although Ishant was in rhythm while bowling for Delhi, this forced break came at an inopportune time.