Mohali, October 28
India suffered a big blow ahead of the crucial Champions Trophy match against Australia tomorrow when Yuvraj Singh, a Chandigarh-based player and a key middle-order batsman, injured his left knee today while warming up with the team at the PCA Stadium at Mohali. Yuvraj has been ruled out of action for four weeks.

Besides ruling him out from the crucial match against the world champions, Yuvraj looks doubtful for the forthcoming tour of South Africa.

Perhaps not aware of the extent of the injury, the player, deemed as one of the mainstay of the Indian batting along with Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, was seen limping around with an ice-pack on the sore knee. When the pain did not subside, he was taken for an MRI examination at a Chandigarh laboratory. After that the swashbuckling 25-year-old batsman was rushed to a hospital at Mohali for treatment.

Team spokesman Rajan Nair said the left-handed batsman had undergone an MRI scan and a “cruciate ligament tear” was diagnosed.

“He will be leaving soon for Mumbai to consult (BCCI) sports medical consultant Anant Joshi. He will be out of cricket for up to four weeks,” Nair said. Asked about the replacement for Yuvraj, Nair said his replacement would be sought if India win tomorrow's match.

The injury has put Yuvraj’s selection for the forthcoming tour of South Africa under cloud. The team for the tour is slated to be selected two days before the Champions Trophy final on October 30 in Mohali. And given the fact that the injury time could be between four to six weeks, Yuvraj’s selection for the important series looks uncertain.

This is the second blow to India. Ajit Agarkar, the most experienced and the most successful seamer in the side, was earlier sidelined after breaking his thumb during India’s last match against West Indies. Agarkar has been replaced in the side by S Sreesanth.

Though Yuvraj was not in the best of form of late, his absence will be a big setback for Team India. In addition to being a hard-hitting batsman capable of changing the gears when needed, Yuvraj is a useful left-arm bowler. Besides, he has been the livewire in the fielding.

When Team India was on an unprecedented winning spree nearly six months back, which saw India win 18 of the 24 ODIs it played, Yuvraj’s form was decisive. Yuvraj along with the batting sensation Mahendra Singh Dhoni provided the thrust to the Indian batting. Yuvraj notched up three successive Man of the Series awards.

When asked what impact Yuvraj’s absence meant for his team, Australian captain Ricky Ponting, perhaps not aware of the fact that the key Indian batsman was injured and was to sit out for tomorrow’s contest, looked relieved, but hastened to add that Yuvraj, besides being a world class batsman whose form was good during the past couple of months, was an outstanding fielder and his absence would be felt by India.

Both India and Australia, having two points each, will be engaged in the crucial contest tomorrow and the winner will advance into the semifinal of the tournament.