Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests of the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to a hairline fracture in his right hand.
Dhawan, who scored a century in the first innings of the first Test, did not come out to field in Sri Lanka’s second essay and clearly looked uncomfortable during his stay in the middle during India’s botched chase.
Dhawan, 29, injured his right hand during the first Test in Galle which India lost by 63 runs on Saturday to concede the lead in the three-match series.
Dhawan will miss both the second Test starting at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday and also the final match at the Sinhalese Sports Club in the Sri Lankan capital from August 28.
“He (Dhawan) underwent tests that confirmed a hairline fracture in his hand. He would require four to six weeks to recover from the injury,” a statement from the team management said.
No replacement has been named, but the injury to the in-form left-hander left India in trouble after the other opener, Lokesh Rahul, was dismissed for seven and five at Galle.
Sad to leave my teammates in the middle of the series, but still did my best even with a broken hand. Will bounce back stronger! Rab Rakha
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) August 17, 2015
Earlier on Sunday, in a desperate bid to get their team combination right, the Indian team summoned Karnataka all-rounder Stuart Binny as the 16th member of the Test squad ahead of the second Test, starting Thursday.
The official line from Indian team management is that Binny has just been added as the 16th member of the squad but he is not replacing anyone in the current squad.
It has been learnt that Murali Vijay’s hamstring injury is being monitored by Team physio Patrick Farhart and a final call on his inclusion in playing XI will be taken a day before the second Test.
“There are no injury concerns. Murali Vijay is improving everyday and a final call on him will be taken ahead of the second Test,” a member of the team management said.
