Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the ongoing 2019 World Cup for three weeks after picking up a thumb injury during the Australia game, which India won by 36 runs at The Oval on Sunday.
Dhawan, who picked up the injury while batting on Sunday, didn't come out to field for the entire 50 overs and after further scans, it has been revealed he has fractured his thumb and will miss at least three weeks of action.
Dhawan, the hero of India's win over Australia in the World Cup on Sunday, played through pain after being hit on the thumb by a rising delivery from pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Shikhar Dhawan picked up the injury while batting against Australia.
He looked in considerable pain but carried on to score 117 off 109 balls.
His three weeks absence means he will miss matches against New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, West Indies and England at least.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] has not named any replacement yet and in Dhawan's absence, KL Rahul is likely to open the batting for The Men in Blues against New Zealand on June 13 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham and the following games.
News agency PTI, quoting a BCCI source, reported that it might take a month for Dhawan to fully recover. The World Cup, which started May 30, ends on July 14.
Designated standbys Rishabh Pant and Ambati Rayudu are in contention to replace Dhawan in case he is completely ruled out of the event.
But the team management might push for Mumbai batsman and India A captain Shreyas Iyer as he is a specialist No.4 batsman. Iyer is currently in England.
Dhawan is being assessed by Patrick Farhart and specialists are being consulted right now to get a clear idea on his availability.
