In a major blow for team India, opener Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out for the next three weeks of the 2019 ICC World Cup due to a suspected finger injury which he suffered after being hit by a Nathan Coulter-Nile delivery in the previous game.
Although he continued playing after being hit in the game against Australia and scored a match-winning century, Dhawan did not take the field in that game as substitute fielder Ravindra Jadeja was used for that game. The 33-year-old has also not travelled with the Indian team to Nottingham where they will be facing New Zealand on Thursday; and has been sent to Leeds instead for further scans and tests regarding the injury.
With Dhawan ruled out for the next few games, team India would have to rethink their strategies with KL Rahul being promoted to open the innings and either of Vijay Shankar or Dinesh Karthik coming to fill the void at number four.
If Dhawan were to be ruled out of the tournament, India could call-up either Ambati Rayudu or Rishabh Pant who have been chosen as reserve players for the 2019 World Cup.
More updates to follow…
Photo Courtesy: AFP Photo/ Dibyanshu Sarkar
