Rohit Sharma's unfortunate calf injury has opened up a rare opportunity at the top of the order for a few hopefuls in the Indian team.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday confirmed that Sharma has been ruled out of the ODI and Test leg of the New Zealand tour after picking up a calf strain in the fifth and final T20 against the Kiwis. Mayank Agarwal has been named as his replacement at the top of the order for the three-match ODI series, which begins in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Sharma retired hurt on Sunday after hitting 60 from 41 balls in India's seven-run win in Mount Maunganui as the men in blue swept the T20 series 5-0.
"He underwent an MRI scan in Hamilton on Monday... and will be referred to the National Cricket Academy (in Bangalore) for further management of his injury," the BCCI said in a statement.
For the two-match Test series that begins on February 21, Prithvi Shaw, Agarwal and Shubman Gill have been named as India's opening options.
In-form batsman KL Rahul was not picked for the Test series despite his scintillating form, which gives a golden opportunity to the next generation of Indian top-order players to make an impact.
Captain Virat Kohli confirmed that Rahul will keep wickets and play in the middle order in the ODI series, which means Agarwal and Shaw – who is also in the ODI squad – will both make their 50-over debuts in the series.
"Prithvi is in the team and will definitely start. KL will play in the middle-order, we want him to get used to that role at number five and keep as well," Kohli had said before Rohit's replacement was announced.
Shaw, 20, played two Tests against the West Indies in 2018 but has been pushed to the sidelines for nearly two years following successive injuries and a doping ban; he returned to cricket in November last year after serving his suspension.
Shikhar Dhawan is also out of the team due to injury, which means Shaw and Agarwal can look forward to an extended run at the top of the order in white and red-ball formats. Gill too will be hoping to get a look-in during the Test series, as he can bat anywhere in the top order.
If any of the three top order batsmen deliver in the next five matches, the Indian management will have a serious problem of plenty as and when Sharma and Dhawan regain their fitness.
The Kiwis, on the other hand, received some unfortunate news with captain Kane Williamson ruled out of at least the first two ODIs due to a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the final two T20s.
The hosts, who contrived to lose from winning positions in the final three T20s, have now been further weakened following injuries to pace spearheads Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson.
Team physio Vijay Vallabh said Williamson hopes to return for the final match of the series in Mount Maunganui. "Kane has had an X-ray scan which cleared him of anything serious, but it's best for his recovery that he avoids aggravating the joint for the next few days," he said.
Tom Latham was named stand-in captain. The match in Hamilton will be New Zealand's first ODI since the World Cup final in July last year.
