Injured Ishant Sharma Ruled Out Of New Zealand Test Series: DDCA Officials

Indian paceman Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of next month’s Test series against New Zealand after sustaining an ankle tear during a Ranji Trophy game in Delhi, a DDCA official said on Tuesday. Ishant had twisted his ankle while bowling in a Ranji Trophy game against Vidarbha on Monday. The two-match Test series against New Zealand will begin from February 21 in Wellington.

"Ishant Sharma's MRI report shows a Grade 3 ankle tear and it is serious. He has been advised three to six weeks of rest and rehabilitation. It is indeed a big blow," DDCA general secretary Vinod Tihara told PTI.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to issue a statement on Ishant's injury. According a BCCI source, the board will once again do an MRI of Ishant to decide on his rehabilitation. "It's a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in BCCI as we will again do his MRI to ascertain degree of tear and decide on his rehabilitation," a BCCI source said.

In the absence of Ishant, fellow Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini is likely to fly New Zealand with team India as a replacement of the 96-Test veteran in the Test squad.

Injured Shikhar Dhawan To Miss Out New Zealand T20Is

Meanwhile, in another injury scare, opener Shikhar Dhawan has also been ruled out of the five-match T20 series in New Zealand due to a shoulder injury he suffered while fielding in the third ODI against Australia in Bengaluru.

Dhawan's injury troubles have carried into the new year and he did not come out to open during the successful run chase against Australia on Sunday. "Yes, he has been ruled out of the T20 series. A replacement will be announced soon" news agency PTI quoted a BCCI official as saying.