2019 World Cup: Vijay Shankar suffers injury scare ahead of IND vs NZ warm-up match

Shankar was hit on his right hand while trying to play a pull shot off Khaleel Ahmed during a net session.

London: All-rounder Vijay Shankar has reportedly suffered an injury on the eve of India's ICC World Cup 2019 warm-up match against New Zealand here at Kennington Oval in London on Saturday.

Shankar was hit on his right hand while trying to play a pull shot off Khaleel Ahmed during a net session.

The batting all-rounder walked off the field in severe pain with support staff carrying his bat and pads.

Later, precautionary scans were done in his right hand and a final call on his participation in Saturday's warm-up game will be taken after reports are out.

“Shankar was taken for precautionary scans and a call on his participation in Saturday’s warm-up game against New Zealand will be taken after the reports are out. It may come Friday evening (London time) or Saturday morning,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying.

The Tamil Nadu all-rounder has been selected in India's 15-man 2019 World Cup squad as a possible No. 4 batsman following his impressive batting performances during India's tour of New Zealand earlier this year.

At the time of announcing the squad, chief selector MSK Prasad said that Shankar is being viewed as number four batsman.

Selectors have given Shankar priority over Ambati Rayudu in the final squad due to his three-dimensional abilities.

With Kedar Jadhav’s left shoulder injury already keeping the team management on tenterhooks, Shankar’s injury, if it turns out to be serious, will certainly give Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri sleepless nights.

While Jadhav’s participation in the warm-up game is doubtful, the Maharashtra right-hander did bat at the main nets on the day after taking throwdowns during the first training session.

He is still not bowling at the nets and it was learnt that he was reluctant to bowl at the Chennai Super Kings nets due to his dodgy hamstring.