Injured Rohit out of ODIS, Tests series against New Zealand

NEWDELHI: In a blow to India, limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma was on Monday ruled out of the upcoming ODI and Test series against New Zealand after sustaining a calf injury during the fifth T20I in Mount Maunganui.

Sharma retired hurt after scoring 60 off 41 balls after he pulled his calf muscle while going for a quick single on Sunday.

“He is out of the tour. Right now, it’s not looking good. The physio is assessing him. We will get to know how bad it is but he is not taking any further part in the series,” a top BCCI source told PTI. India are set to play three

ODIS, starting Wednesday, and two Tests after that.

Later in the evening, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said Shubman Gill, who scored a double hundred in the ongoing A series Tests against New Zealand, will be Sharma’s replacement in Tests. The Test squad will be announced later.

Ganguly also said the two replacements in the selection panel will be picked by the end of this month. The BCCI has sought application to replace chairman MSK Prasad (South zone) and Gagan Khoda (West Zone) in the five-member panel. The BCCI formed the new Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Madan Lal, RP Singh and Sulakshana Naik. “The new CAC has been constituted and the new selectors should be picked by this month,” Ganguly said. Among the applicants are Ajit Agarkar, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Ameya Khurasia and Nayan Mongia.

The old selection committee under MSK Prasad will be announcing the replacement but it might take some time as convenor of the selection committee, secretary Jay Shah, is on his way to New Zealand along with treasurer Arun Dhumal. “Once the secretary’s approval comes, the replacement will be announced,” the source added.

It has still not been ascertained whether Sharma has a calf muscle tear but he looked in severe pain even after physio Nitin Patel attended to him.