Injury blow to India: Shikhar Dhawan out of action for 3 weeks

Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan ruled out from the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019 for three weeks due to a thumb fracture that he suffered during his match-winning century against Australia.

This is a major blow out to team India ahead of its two crucial matches against New Zealand and Pakistan. His ton against Australia turned the tables of the match and allowed India to put up a target of 357 and win it.

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His left thumb has been a long-standing issue for Dhawan, who first suffered the injury in 2016 when he was hit by a bouncer on the same spot by a New Zealand pacer.

After being hit on the thumb by a rising delivery from pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile, he seemed to be in considerable pain but carried on to score 117 off 109 balls. However, Dhawan didn’t come out to field due to the injury and Ravindra Jadeja fielded in his place for the entire 50 overs.

It is expected that either Shreyas Iyer or Rishabh Pant would be replacing Dhawan in the tournament. Dhawan’s 117 knock against Australia proves the form he is in and that can be a disadvantage to lose him.

Both Iyer and Pant have put up a good show at the latest edition of the Indian Premier League. However, they were not selected in the World Cup squad after a much anticipated process for selecting the number four.