New Delhi, Mar 19: India's latest batting sensation Shikhar Dhawan was today ruled out of the fourth and final Test against Australia starting here on Friday, as he will be out of action for six weeks due to a fracture on his left hand which he sustained while fielding during the third match at Mohali.
The BCCI said in a statement that Gautam Gambhir, who was omitted from the initial squad for the four-match series due to a prolonged form slump, was included in the team but he also could not be available due to jaundice. The selection committee then picked Suresh Raina to join the team.
“Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the fourth AIRTEL Test against Australia, scheduled to be played at Delhi from 22 March 2013 to 26 March 2013, after sustaining a fracture in his left hand. He will be out of action for six weeks,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“The All India Senior Selection Committee then added Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina to the squad for the fourth Test. However, Gambhir has been diagnosed with jaundice, after undergoing a blood test, earlier today.
The official announcement of the team was delayed, as the Board was waiting for the copy of report. Gambhir will not take part in Delhi Test, as a result,” BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in the release.
Dhawan, who had smashed his way into the record books on Saturday by scoring the fastest-ever Test century on debut in India's first innings in the third Test against Australia, would consider himself to be unlucky as he would miss a Test match in front of his home crowd.
Dhawan, who made 187 at Mohali, suffered a hand injury while fielding on the fourth day.
The Indian team for the fourth Test:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma.
