MELBOURNE: Indian pace bowler Akash Deep played down concerns over skipper Rohit Sharma’s knee injury in the build-up to their fourth Test against Australia this week after the batsman was hit during a practice session on Sunday.

Rohit, who missed the opening Test to spend time with his newborn son and has been struggling for form since returning to the team, looked in discomfort after being struck on his left knee in the nets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 37-year-old continued batting but later received care from a physiotherapist and had an ice pack strapped to his leg, which he rested on a chair.

“Such injuries are quite common when you play cricket and it doesn’t make much of a difference,” Aka­sh told reporters, adding that the practice wicket had been challenging.

“I think this was a wic­k­et for white-ball cric­ket, so the ball kept a bit low and it was a bit difficult to bat on. But such blows happen and it’s not a concern.”

India battled hard to earn a draw in the rain-int­e­rrupted third Test in Bris­bane to leave the five-ma­t­ch series locked at 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day clash.

The tourists won the first Test in Perth by 295 runs before crashing to a 10-wicket defeat in Adelaide.

“It’s 50-50 right now. In the last match, even though we were behind, we built some confidence. This Test match will be very important for both teams,” Akash said.

“Our mindset as fast bowlers is that we can get some quick wickets with the new ball and cause problems for them. We have seen in the three matches that we can create chances with the new ball.

“After 30 overs, however, you have to wait for the batsmen to make mistakes.”

Meanwhile, teenage opener Sam Konstas says he is ready and equipped to take on India’s feared pace attack in the Boxing Day Test after being called up to Australia’s squad for the first time.

The 19-year-old is poised to open alongside veteran Usman Khawaja — twice his age at 38 — at a sold-out Melbourne Cricket Ground after Nathan McSweeney was axed after just three Tests.

“I’m very excited,” he told Fox Sports after being dismissed for a three-ball duck playing for Sydney Thunder in the T20 Big Bash League on Saturday.

“I want to be challenged and I’ve got a few plans against India’s bowlers.

“I feel like I’m moving really nicely so hopefully I get that opportunity.”

Australia’s top-order has been terrorised by pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah over the first three Tests of the five-match series.

While McSweeney paid the price, Khawaja is also under pressure after a lean spell.

Konstas is not a guaranteed starter, with Josh Ing­lis and Beau Webster also in the squad.

Should he pad up, he wo­uld become Australia’s youngest Test debutant since skipper Pat Cummins took the field against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2011 Konstas thrust himself into the frame after becoming the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to score two centuries in the same Sheffield Shield match.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2024