New Delhi:
Shikhar Dhawan’s World Cup journey is under a cloud after suffering a hairline fracture to his thumb. The left-hander was struck by a bouncer from Pat Cummins in the game against Australia at The Oval but he battled on and scored a brilliant 117, his fourth century against the five-time champions and his 17th overall. However, the injury has ruled him out of the next three games against New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan and the Indian team have requested Rishabh Pant to be flown in as cover. While many are speculating that Dhawan’s World Cup journey might be over, the Delhi opener has resorted to poetry to state that his World Cup is not over.
Quoting the lines of a renowned poet Dr Rahat Indori on his Twitter handle, Dhawan wrote, “Kabhi mehek ki tarah hum gulon se udte hain..., Kabhi dhuyein ki tarah hum parbaton se udte hain..., Ye kainchiyaan humein udne se khaak rokengi...ke hum paron se nahin hoslon se udte hain...#DrRahatIndori Ji.â€
Kabhi mehek ki tarah hum gulon se udte hain...
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) June 12, 2019
Kabhi dhuyein ki tarah hum parbaton se udte hain...
Ye kainchiyaan humein udne se khaak rokengi...
Ke hum paron se nahin hoslon se udte hain...#DrRahatIndori Ji pic.twitter.com/h5wzU2Yl4H
Pant has now been flown in as a cover for Dhawan. However, Pant won't be considered a replacement till the time the team management takes a final call on Dhawan's availability for the rest of the tournament. Currently, the BCCI medical team is monitoring Dhawan’s injury.
Pant’s omission from the World Cup squad had raised plenty of questions. The young left-hander had become the first Indian wicketkeeper to score two centuries in overseas Tests. Pant had blasted 114 at The Oval against England in 2018 while he smashed 159 against Australia in Sydney in a series which India won 2-1, their first-ever series win Down Under.
Dhawan has been ruled out of three matches due to a hairline fracture on his left thumb which he sustained during his match-winning hundred in the clash against Australia on Sunday. “Dhawan is presently under the observation of the BCCI medical team. The team management has decided that Dhawan will continue to be in England and his progress will be monitored. Dhawan sustained an injury on the back of his left hand in the region between the index finger and thumb," the Indian team said in a statement on Wednesday night.
