Cricket news round-up – October 2: Hardik joins Bumrah with lower back problem; BBL contract for de Villiers

India suffered another injury blow as Hardik Pandya sustained a stress fracture that is expected to rule him out for a few months yet. Meanwhile, AB de Villiers signed up with Brisbane Heat and is set to play BBL for the first time, Miguel Cummins takes the Kolpak route to UK, and Virat Kohli explains why Rohit Sharma will open.  

Pandya laid low by back injury

Hardik Pandya has had a repeat of the lower back injury and will miss the ongoing Tests against South Africa as well as the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, a report in the Times of India said.

Pandya is expected to fly out to the United Kingdom to meet a specialist for treatment. He first suffered the injury during the Asia Cup in Dubai last year, and has suffered on and off with it.

He is the second big member of the Indian team to be ruled out after Jasprit Bumrah suffered a stress fracture in his back.

Brisbane Heat sign up AB de Villiers

Brisbane Heat have pulled off a major coup with the signing of AB de Villiers for the second half of the upcoming BBL season.

De Villiers is the third overseas player in the Heat set up, with the Afghanistan pair of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Zahir Khan. The South African batting ace will only join the side next year, though, having stressed his intention to spend the holidays with the family.

“I’ve spoken to Chris [Lynn, Heat captain] a few times after games in the IPL,” de Villiers said. “I always enjoy the way he plays the game, he really goes after the bowling, he attacks the game, and he seems like a really good team-mate. He gives his best shot for the boys. I’m looking forward to joining forces with him. The Heat have always stood out to me.”

Miguel Cummins quits West Indies

Miguel Cummins, the West Indies pacer, has signed a Kolpak deal with Middlesex and quit his career with West Indies.

Cummins had played 14 Tests and 11 ODIs for West Indies, and most recently turned out for them during the Tests against India last month.

Cummins played for Middlesex last month, taking eight wickets in three Championship matches. He follows the route taken by the likes of Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul, other West Indies players to take the Kolpak route to county cricket.

Rohit as opener has been discussed ‘for a long time’ – Virat Kohli

Rohit Sharma opened for the first time in Test cricket, and on the eve of the match, Virat Kohli explained the reasoning behind the decision.

KL Rahul was dropped for the Tests against South Africa, meaning Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are the two main options to open alongside Mayank Agarwal.

“This has been discussed for a long time now,” Kohli said on the eve of the Visakhapatnam Test. “We felt like down the order, it was about finding a spot wherever possible, which wasn’t working both ways. For Rohit as well, I think clarity of role and knowing that, you know, you have to play in a certain position also is very crucial for a player.