News Sports Cricket Shardul Thakur to replace injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar for third Ind-NZ Test

Shardul Thakur to replace injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar for third Ind-NZ Test

Medium pacer Shardul Thakur will replace injured Bhuvnshwar Kumar for the third and final match of three-Test series against New Zealand in Indore starting on Saturday.

Indi-NZ Test series Shardul Thakur to replace injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar for third Ind-NZ Test

Medium pacer Shardul Thakur will replace injured Bhuvnshwar Kumar for the third and final match of three-Test series against New Zealand in Indore starting on Saturday. 

Bhuvneshwar, who picked his maiden five wicket haul at home to guide India to a 178-run win in the Kolkata Test, was ruled out of the final game after sustaining a back strain.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee have named medium pacer Shardul Thakur as the replacement for injured pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the Indian Team," BCCI said in a statement.

"Kumar has been ruled out of the third Test of the Paytm Test series against New Zealand after he sustained a back strain in the second Test at the Eden Gardens," the statement added.

India go into the inconsequential final Test after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber.

Registering a series-clinching comprehensive 178-run win over New Zealand in the Kolkata Test, Team India today pushed down arch-rivals Pakistan from the numero uno spot in the ICC Test rankings.

India's top spot is guaranteed irrespective of how the third and final Test in Indore, which will be played from 8-12 October, pans out.