India Vs New Zealand: Gautam Gambhir recalled, to replace injured KL Rahul

Experienced opener Gautam Gambhir on Tuesaday returned to India’s Test squad after two years in place of injured Lokesh Rahul for the last two matches of the Test series against New Zealand. Rahul was ruled out of the remainder of the Test series due to a right hamstring injury.

“BCCI medical team has confirmed that team India opener, KL Rahul has an injury in his right hamstring and he is ruled out for the remainder of the Paytm Test series against New Zealand,” BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke said in a release.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Gautam Gambhir as Rahul’s replacement for the next two Test matches,” he added.

Gautam Gambhir has been recalled to the Indian team for Kolkata in place of injured KL Rahul for next 2 test matches #indvsnz

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

India have a back-up opener in left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan. Gambhir had played the last of his 56 Tests against England at The Oval in August 2014. Rahul had sustained the injury while batting in the second innings of the Kanpur Test, which India won by 197 runs on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The Black Caps, meanwhile, arrived with Jeetan Patel in place of injured off-spinner Mark Craig.

Pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, who was ruled out of first Test due to chikungunya, will miss the second match as well at the Eden Gardens and uncapped Haryana off-spinner Jayant Yadav was named as his replacement.

“Medium pacer Ishant Sharma is recovering and won’t be available for the second Test of the series to played in Kolkata,” the release said.

“BCCI medical Team will continue to monitor his progress.  Off spinner Jayant Yadav will replace Ishant for the second Test.”

Gambhir had appeared for a fitness test at the NCA in Bangalore today. The Delhi batsman was impressive in the recent Duleep Trophy, where he scored four back-to-back half-centuries including two 90 plus scores.