Dhawan rules out of World Cup campaign with broken thumb, Pant as replacement

India is keeping Dhawan, whom it regards as “a precious player,” around in England in the hope his thumb responds to treatment.

SOUTHAMPTON (AFP) - India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a fractured finger, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced Wednesday.

The in-form batsman suffered the break while facing Australia’s Pat Cummins in India’s second match of the tournament at the Oval on June 9.

Dhawan carried on batting and scored a century to earn the man-of-the-match award as India beat the reigning champions by 36 runs.

But the 33-year-old left-hander did not field and has not featured in the World Cup since his century at Surrey’s headquarters in south London.

Rishabh Pant, a dynamic batsman and wicketkeeper, is set to replace Dhawan in India’s squad ahead of their match against Afghanistan at Southampton on Saturday

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that Dhawan has been diagnosed with a fracture of the first metacarpal on his left hand following a ball impact injury during the team’s first match versus Australia at the Oval on 5th June 2019.

Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of India s #CWC19 campaign with a broken bone in his hand. MORE TO FOLLOW... pic.twitter.com/29OzvSjhjr

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 19, 2019

“Following several specialist opinions, he will remain in a cast until the middle of July and therefore will not be available for the remainder of #CWC19”, tweeted BCCI.

Following several specialist opinions, he will remain in a cast until the middle of July and therefore will not be available for the remainder of #CWC19

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 19, 2019

India is keeping Dhawan, whom it regards as “a precious player,” around in England in the hope his thumb responds to treatment. "Following several specialist opinions, he will remain in a cast until mid-July, which rules him out of the ICC World Cup 2019.", team manager Sunil Subramanian told reporters in Southampton.

Wicket-keeper Pant has flown to England to cover for India as an opener for the rest of the tournament.

India, who will still require the formal approval of the World Cup event technical committee before calling up the 21-year-old Pant into their tournament squad, summoned the dynamic left-hander last week as concerns mounted over Dhawan’s fitness.

"He (Pant) bats in the middle order and obviously being a left-hander helps and he was named in the standbys as well, so the team management has gone and picked him," said India assistant coach Sanjay Bangar last week.