India are waiting on the fitness of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the third Test against Australia.

Coach Ravi Shastri has copped plenty of criticism after Jadeja was not named in a depleted XI for the second Test in Perth, where they were without the injured Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma.

Many expected Jadeja to replace Ashwin, but seamer Umesh Yadav was selected instead.

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‘The problem with Jadeja was that he had taken an injection four days into coming to Australia because of some stiffness in his shoulder, and it took a while for that injection to settle down. So when you look at Perth, we felt he was about 70 to 80 percent fit, and we didn’t want to risk that in Perth. If he is 80 percent here, he will play, that’s the answer,’ said Shastri.

‘When he came here he felt some stiffness and he felt that in India as well, but he played domestic cricket after that. Still felt stiff in the shoulder, and he was injected again and it takes time to settle. It has taken longer than we expected, and we wanted to be careful. Last thing you want is someone breaking down after five-ten overs, and then we are stuck for players to pick for Melbourne and Sydney.’

India won the first Test in Adelaide and Australia the second in Perth. Melbourne will host the third and Sydney the fourth.

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