DHAWAN OUT FOR T20 SERIES AGAINST WI

NEW DELHI: Opener Shikhar Dhawan was on Wednesday ruled out of the T20 International series against the West Indies due to a knee injury, making way for Sanju Samson, who was dropped without getting a chance in the recent series against Bangladesh.

Dhawan suffered a deep cut on his left knee during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy game against Maharashtra in Surat, the BCCI said in a statement.

“The BCCI Medical Team assessed him on Tuesday to review the healing of his wound. The BCCI Medical Team has suggested that Dhawan needs some more time for his stitches to come off and his wound to heal completely,” the BCCI revealed.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Sanju Samson as Dhawan’s replacement for the T20I series,” it added.

The T20 series against the West Indies gets underway on December 6 in Hyderabad. The other two matches will be played in Thiruvananthapuram (December 8) and Mumbai (December 11).

Kerala player Samson was dropped from the side without getting a single game in the home series against Bangladesh earlier this month.

SAHA’S SURGERY

India’s Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha has had surgery on his finger after suffering a fracture during the day-night match against Bangladesh in Kolkata, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday.

Saha fractured his right ring finger during India’s inaugural pink ball test at Eden Gardens, which the hosts won by an innings and 46 runs to win the two-test series 2-0.

“The BCCI medical team consulted a hand and wrist specialist and it was suggested that Saha undergoes a surgical fixation of the fracture,” the board said in a statement.

“Subsequently, he underwent a successful surgery in Mumbai on Tuesday and will soon commence his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru.”