Hyderabad: Team India has been dealt with a big blow as their opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the ongoing World Cup for minimum three weeks due to thumb fracture.
Dhawan suffered the injury during his game against Australia in the World Cup on Sunday as he was hit on his left thumb by a rising delivery from pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Despite considerable pain, 33-year-old continued to bat and went on to score 117 off 109 balls.
However, Dhawan didn't come out to field due to the injury and was replaced by Ravindra Jadeja for the entire 50 overs.
Later, the southpaw underwent precautionary tests, including x-ray, which confirmed the fracture. Following the result, Physio Patrick Farhart decided to rule him out for the next three weeks.
Dhawan will therefore not be able to play India’s upcoming matches against New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, West Indies and England - all these matches are scheduled to be played in June.
