Rohit ruled out of ODIs and Test series against New Zealand

India’s limited-overs deputy Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the ODIs and Test series against New Zealand after suffering a calf injury while batting in the fifth T20I at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Speaking to IANS, sources in the team management confirmed the same. “Yes, he has been ruled out of the ODI and Test series after suffering the injury during the fifth game last night,” the source said.

Rohit’s injury will in all probability open the doors for KL Rahul’s return to the Test team. Considering that Rahul was the Man of the Series in the T20Is and has had a good run in ODIs as well in recent times, he could be the choice when the selectors look to pick the Test squad.

Another player who could be in the fray is Prithvi Shaw as the batsman has already been named in the ODI team as Shikhar Dhawan’s replacement after proving his form in the ‘A’ matches against New Zealand ‘A’. If Shaw does manage to get a game and scores runs, he could well be drafted into the Test team to give Mayank Agarwal company at the top.

Hardik Pandya has also been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand as he travelled to London for a review of his back by spinal surgeon James Allibone.

He has been out of action since September. Senior pacer Ishant twisted his right ankle during a Ranji Trophy game in Delhi and is unlikely to recover in time for the first Test on Feb.21.

Hardik was accompanied by NCA head physio Ashish Kaushik to UK and the cricketer will undergo rehab at the National Cricket Academy until he regains full match fitness.

Both Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah had earlier hired the services of Delhi Capitals trainer Rajnikanth Sivagnanam to undergo rehab post their injuries. The duo had refused to head to the NCA and while Yogesh Parmar kept an eye on Pandya’s progress post his back surgery, Nitin Patel studied every process that Bumrah followed during his rehab after the stress fracture the pacer had suffered on his back.

But the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly made it clear that all players must report to the NCA to undergo rehab.

Coming into the T20I series, skipper Virat Kohli had spoken about how the players have literally started landing at stadiums and playing games without any break and stand-in captain Rahul echoed the sentiments after the win on Sunday.

“Every month we have been playing so many games. It is hard on the body so we have been working hard, to stay mentally and physically fit to keep putting up performances like this,” Rahul told reporters after India’s seven-run win over New Zealand in the fifth T20I in Mount Maunganui.

“Travelling away and winning a series 5-0 doesn’t happen too often. So the next couple of days we will enjoy that, put our feet up and relax. Obviously we have the confidence going into the ODIs, we have been doing well for the past couple of years. Recent form for 3-4 months has been great too, personally as well as a team, we have been doing well,” he said.

Meanwhile, India have been fined 20 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the fifth and final Twenty20 International on Sunday.

Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Rohit Sharma’s side was ruled to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Sharma pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Chris Brown and Shaun Haig, and third umpire Ashley Mehrotra levelled the charge.

Agencies