Injuries are an unfortunate part of sports, but in Indian cricket, injuries are becoming a major issue. As cricket is becoming more and more demanding these days, the number of injuries is peaking.
Too much emphasis on strength and conditioning, high-intensity training, and sometimes hazardous rehabilitation has taken a toll on the players. Team India's preparation has been severely derailed due to various injuries on multiple occasions, especially in away series.
Injuries have derailed the team's plans on many occasions, and they have cost India dearly in bilateral Test series.
Here are 5 such occurrences where Team India had a severe injury crisis ahead of a Test series
1. Sri Lanka vs. India (2026)
The build-up to the 2026 Test series against Sri Lanka has been the most challenging in recent years. After a grueling domestic season, an injury epidemic erupted, with as many as 13 core players already receiving treatment at the Center of Excellence. With the 2025–27 World Test Championship on the line, India's initial plans were forced to rely on medical fitness, with Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, and Washington Sundar all failing to recover in time.
As a result, late additions to the squad such as Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan were required, while Shubman Gill battled several niggling injuries, including a blow to the hand during the practice matches. A high number of unavailable stars posed an even greater challenge ahead of the series on slow and grueling subcontinent pitches.
2. Border-Gavaskar Trophy (2007-08)
India's exploits Down Under, and the subsequent fallout during the 2007–08 series, have become legend in recent years. However, the road to the cricket pitch was anything but smooth, as they faced significant absences before the series even began. India needed pace to overcome the challenges of Australia's fast pitches, but several key fast-men were injured, with Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, and RP Singh suffering from various issues, with the announcement of the final squad delayed. The top order also faced challenges, as opener Gambhir failed to recover from a shoulder injury. After a slow start to the series, skipper Zaheer Khan limped out of the first Test, while Yuvraj Singh suffered a knee injury before the second Test in Perth.
Also read: Ajinkya Rahane Set for Test Commentary Debut During India's Sri Lanka Tour
3.England vs. India (2011)
India's 0-4 whitewash in England has since been overshadowed by the infamous series of spot-fixing scandals. Before the matches began, they had to face some batting and bowling absences due to injuries. The first-choice openers Sehwag and Gambhir had both traveled with injuries that would significantly impact their performances, with Sehwag falling victim to a pair and Gambhir sustaining a concussion.
Emerging star Pujara was also ruled out for the majority of the games due to serious ACL damage. The injury list then exploded at the start of the first Test at Lord's – Pakistan limited-over international captain Zaheer Khan, the first-choice fast bowler, was hurt and was subsequently ruled out of the series.
Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh were both injured during the tour, and a series of tactical replacements were forced as a result. Sachin Tendulkar suffered from a severe knee injury that affected his performance, and the whole team was forced into constant changes throughout the match.
4.Bangladesh vs. India (2022)
Having finished second in the WTC 2021-23, Bangladesh's two-Test series was an excellent opportunity to test their preparations, and the hosts did not disappoint. However, with Rohit Sharma – the first-choice opener already ruled out with a thumb injury- and Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja – the backbone of the attack- unavailable, KL Rahul took over the captaincy duties.
A series of other first-choice regulars, including the highly-rated wicketkeeper batsman Bhuvneshwar Kumar, suffered from minor injuries. India was forced to make a number of late additions to the squad before the series began, with Abhimanyu Easwaran, Jaydev Unadkat, and other domestic players filling key roles. Despite a strong performance from the team, a 2–0 victory was only secured.
5. South Africa vs. India(2021-22)
India's chances of winning a historic series in South Africa suffered a setback when skipper Rohit Sharma tore his hamstring during the warm-up matches. In addition, two of the three first-choice all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, were injured due to ligament damage during the preparation for the games.
Shubman Gill missed the matches due to a stress fracture. The injury list then exploded as Virat Kohli was ruled out ahead of the Second Test due to lower back spasms. Several batting players sustained minor injuries, with a significant impact on the middle order.
As a result, even with a 1-0 lead, India lost the crucial Second Test and the series overall.