Injured Jadeja still in line for World Cup spot

India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja is likely to find a place in the World Cup squad, although he has not yet recovered from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the Tests against Australia.

Sanjay Patel, the BCCI secretary had told reporters last month that Jadeja would need "three to four weeks" to recover from his shoulder injury and is unlikely to be fit for the start of the tri-series in Australia, which begins from January 16. Jadeja is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the new BCCI centre in Chennai and is being monitored by the board's physiotherapist, Nitin Patel.

The national selectors will be provided with an update on Jadeja's fitness when they meet on January 6 to pick the squad for the tri-series against Australia and England, and the World Cup. The deadline for announcing the World Cup squad is January 7. If Jadeja's rehabilitation goes according to plan, he will be match-fit by around January 20 and could get a chance to prove his fitness during India's last two league games in the tri-series.

If Jadeja fails to recover in time, the BCCI can get him replaced in the World Cup squad. According to the World Cup rules, a player can only be replaced on medical grounds. As a result, even if Jadeja does not recover in time for the World Cup after being picked in the squad, he can be replaced if the ICC medical committee is convinced, based on the fitness reports, that the injury will not heal in time for the tournament.