Indian pacer Kumar to miss 2−3 games with hamstring injury

MANCHESTER: Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be out of India’s next three World Cup games ater injuring himself in Sunday’s emphatic win over Pakistan, according to captain Virat Kohli.

Sharing the new ball for india withjaspri tb um ra h -- in pakistan’ s initial chase of 337-- kumar was into his third over when he landed awkwardly and hobbled off the ground, leaving India one bowler short.

He managed 2.4 overs before leaving the Old Trafford field due to a hamstring problem.

The injury saw him sit out theres to fa rain-affected game that his side eventually won by a commanding 89 runs on the Duckworth/lewis method.

“Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a slight niggle, he slipped on the footmarks,” Kohli told Sky Sports ater the match.

“It doesn’t look too serious and hopefully he will be ready in a few games, the maximum is three games. “We are not too worried ,” the star bats man added. A three-game absence would rule Kumar out of group fixtures against Afghanistan, the West Indies and England, with India’s final round-robin game of the 10-team first round stage against Bangladesh on July 2. One consolation for India on Sunday was that Vijay Shankar, who had to complete Kumar’s unfinished over, struck with his very first ball to have Imam-ul-haq lbw for seven. Kumar’s injury is likely to facilitate the selection of fellow right-hand quick Mohammed Shami who is yet to play a match in the tournament.

Kohli said Kumar was “important” to the team and that Shami was “raring to go”.

India were already awaiting the return of opener Shikhar Dhawan, who injured his hand during his match-winning century in the team’ s win over australia.

Dhawan, who did not play against Pakistan, is under medical observation and travelling with the team. Rising star Rishabh Pant has been flown in as cover for the let-handed batsman.