Chennai Super Kings and India opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the ongoing T20 International series against Sri Lanka, after he missed the first game due to a minor injury to his wrist.
He was assumed to be a definite part of the squad for the first ODI, but could not be cleared to take part after experiencing some pain in his wrist, which was affecting his batting. The BCCI has ensured that the medical staff will be examining Gaikwad, and will determine the course of action.
Meanwhile, Karnataka opener Mayank Agarwal has been drafted into the squad for the remaining two T20Is as a replacement for the injured Gaikwad.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad complained of pain in his right wrist, which is affecting his batting. He was unavailable for selection for the first T20I. The BCCI Medical Team is examining him,”
a BCCI spokesperson told the media.
According to the management, getting Gaikwad in as a replacement was not a hugely difficult task, as the right-hander was in Chandigarh and could be brought to Dharamsala without much hassle.
“It was not difficult to send Agarwal in because it could easily be a bubble-to-bubble transfer. He was in Chandigarh and he was immediately rushed,”
said a senior official in the BCCI.
India battered the Sri Lankan side in the opening T20I at Lucknow, beating their southern neighbours by 62 runs. Ishan Kishan starred in the game, scoring a magnificent 89 to give his side a match-winning total.
Kishan and skipper Rohit Sharma put up a century stand before Sharma was dismissed. Kishan and newly-appointed KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer, who scored an unbeaten 28-ball 57, then provided solid acceleration towards the end of the innings, as India finished on 199-2.
Updated India squad for the final two T20Is vs Sri Lanka
Rohit Sharma (C), Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan, Mayank Agarwal
