New Delhi, Jan 21: The Indian cricket team on Tuesday grappled with a couple of major injury concerns ahead of their away assignment against New Zealand with opener Shikhar Dhawan ruled out of the T20 series and senior pacer Ishant Sharma certain to miss the Tests.
Dhawan was ousted from the five-match T20 series starting on Friday, due to a shoulder injury he suffered while fielding in the third ODI against Australia in Bengaluru.
Ishant, on the other hand, was declared unfit for the Tests starting February 21 owing to an ankle tear sustained during a Ranji Trophy game on Monday.
“Yes, he (Dhawan) has been ruled out of the T20 series. A replacement will be announced soon” a BCCI official said.
“Ishant Sharma’s MRI report shows a Grade 3 ankle tear and it is serious. He has been advised six weeks of rest and rehabilitation. It is indeed a big blow. Six weeks is the maximum but a minimum three weeks is must,” said Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) general secretary Vinod Tihara on Ishant’s fitness status.
India will play five T20 Internationals, three ODIs and two Tests during the tour starting with the shortest format on January 24.
Dhawan’s injury troubles have carried into the new year and he did not come out to open during the successful run chase against Australia on Sunday. The southpaw was taken for an X-ray after he hurt his left shoulder during fielding at the Chinnaswamy Stadim on Sunday.
K L Rahul came out to bat in his place alongside Rohit Sharma. Dhawan was seen wearing a sling on his left hand.
The 34-year-old Dhawan did not take the field for the entire duration of the Australian innings in the second ODI after a Pat Cummins bouncer hit him on the rib cage while batting. Dhawan missed the entire limited overs series against West Indies last month.
He also had to pull out of the 2019 World Cup due to a fractured thumb, an injury he suffered against Australia. In the same game, he had scored a match-winning hundred.
Ishant, playing for Delhi, had twisted his ankle on his follow through while bowling against Vidarbha on Monday. The statement on his fitness came from the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association but the Indian cricket board is yet to issue any update on his injury.
“It’s a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in BCCI as we will again do his MRI to ascertain degree of tear and decide on his rehabilitation,” a BCCI source said.
Fellow Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini is likely to replace the 96-Test veteran in the squad.
Ishant was in the middle of his second Ranji Trophy this season, having played the opening home game against Hyderabad last month.
The 31-year-old is an integral part of arguably India’s best ever pace attack comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav. (PTI)
India tour of New Zealand, 2020
Date Match Details Time
Jan 24, Fri New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I
Eden Park, Auckland 12:30 PM
Jan 26, Sun New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I
Eden Park, Auckland 12:30 PM
Jan 29, Wed New Zealand vs India, 3rd T20I
Seddon Park, Hamilton 12:30 PM
Jan 31, Fri New Zealand vs India, 4th T20I
Westpac Stadium, Wellington 12:30 PM
Feb 02, Sun New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 12:30 PM
Feb 05, Wed New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI
Seddon Park, Hamilton 7:30 AM
Feb 08, Sat New Zealand vs India, 2nd ODI
Eden Park, Auckland 7:30 AM
Feb 11, Tue New Zealand vs India, 3rd ODI
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 7:30 AM
Feb 14, Fri – Feb 16, Sun New Zealand XI vs India,
3-day Practice MatchSeddon Park, Hamilton 3:30 AM
Feb 21, Fri – Feb 25, Tue New Zealand vs India, 1st Test
Basin Reserve, Wellington 4:00 AM
Feb 29, Sat – Mar 04, Wed New Zealand vs India, 2nd Test
Hagley Oval, Christchurch 4:00 AM
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