Shikhar Dhawan ruled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup for 3 weeks

Shikhar Dhawan ruled out of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales for as many as 3 weeks as per reports

In what might come as a shocking new for the Indian Cricket Team and its ardent fans, India’s star opening batsman- Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 for as many as 3 weeks owing to the thumb injury he had sustained while batting against Australia at the Oval, according to the reports.

It is worth mentioning that Dhawan was the star with the bat in India’s win against the Aussies at the Kennington Oval on Sunday with his scintillating knock of 117 off 109 deliveries. He was hit on the left thumb,courtesy a raising delivery bowled by the Aussie pacer Nathan Coulter Nile. He had thus, not taken the field in the second innings, as Ravindra Jadeja fielded the entire 50 overs as his replacement.

Report reveals a fracture

Shikhar Dhawan had gone for a scan on Monday and the report reveals he has a hairline fracture on his left thumb. As per ESPNCricinfo, the Southpaw has gone to Leeds to undergo scans.

Thus, the 33-year-old will not be featuring in Indian colours for the entire month of June and will miss India’s upcoming matches against New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, West Indies, and Hosts England (all of which are to be played in June) in the World Cup.

NEWS ALERT: Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of #CWC19 for three weeks after suffering thumb injury during the game against Australia.

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) June 11, 2019

A spectacular record in ICC Tournaments

This is a major blow for India, especially if we take into consideration the left-hander’s record while playing in the ICC Tournaments. The ‘Man of the match’ from the previous encounter against Australia, Dhawan has 6 hundreds in the tournaments organized by World Cricket’s apex body.

He had scored 2 magnificent hundreds in the 2015 World Cup organized in Australia and New Zealand as well.

Thus, in his absence, it will be India’s present no.4 batsmen- KL Rahul who will most likely open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma. What might come as a breather for India is that Rahul too, has returned back to form, although Dhawan’s shoes might be too big to fill in the opening slot.

According to the sources, Shikhar Dhawan’s possible replacement  could either be Shreyas Iyer or Rishabh Pant.