In a huge blow to India, opening batsman Prithvi Shaw suffered an injury in the warm-up game against Cricket Australia (CA) XI at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney on Friday.
Prithvi, 19, twisted his left ankle while attempting a catch at the boundary ropes during the third day of the match. Later, scans revealed a lateral ligament injury and he will undergo an "intensive rehabilitation program" to become available at the earliest.
"(Prithvi) Shaw underwent scans this morning and the reports revealed a lateral ligament injury. Shaw will be unavailable for the First Test against Australia in Adelaide," BCCI said in a statement.
"He will undergo an intensive rehabilitation program to hasten the recovery and be available for selection at the earliest," it added.
Shaw hit a fluent 66 in India's first innings. India are yet to name a replacement for the injured player. In his place, KL Rahul is expected to open the innings in the first Test.
The 19-year-old made his Test debut in October against the visiting West Indies at Rajkot. The two-match old player has 237 runs at an average of 118.50 with a hundred and fifty. He is India's youngest player to a century on debut.
The first Test match in Adelaide starts on December 6.
The two sides will play four Test matches. They shared the three-match Twenty20 International series 1-1 after the second match at Sydney Cricket Ground ended in no result thanks to the rain.
(With Agency inputs)
