India's preparation for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh suffered a blow
when skipper Rahul Dravid was hit on the face by a bouncer from R P
Singh on the penultimate day of the conditioning camp here today.
When Dravid, who was having batting practice on a grassy centre wicket track,
tried to hook a delivery, the ball came off his bat and hit his face.
Dravid, who was wearing a helmet, immediately collapsed and
team physio John Gloster gave him treatment for a couple of minutes before
the Indian captain left for the dressing room with a towel wrapped on his face.
Dravid was profusely bleeding when he left the ground.
Team's Administrative Manager Surendra Bhave, however,
said Dravid injury was not serious and he was expected to start playing
in 48 hours.
"Ball hit visor of helmet and impacted on the grill. It is nose trauma
but no cut or injury. It is not serious," he told reporters.
"The X-ray showed bruises and 24-hour rest has been advised by the ENT
speciallist. He is expected to play in 48 hours. He will be slowly brought into
action," he added.
The team is scheduled to leave for its 23-day tour of Bangladesh
on Monday and play its first one-dayer on May 10.
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar had suffered a right ankle sprain on the opening
day of the camp on Wednesday, but since then his condition has fast improved.
The master batsman sustained the injury when he ducked to a S Sreesanth
bouncer on the same pitch.
The Indians also had to contain with the absence of V V S Laxman, who
had not made it to the camp as he was down with gastroenteritis.
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