In what comes as a huge blow for India, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the recent most to join the injury list in the ongoing New Zealand series.
The 26-year old has been in spectacular form as he has delivered a five-wicket haul when called upon to bowl in the Kolkata test. Bhuvneshwar has managed to pick up five wickets in the Eden test as he played a crucial in handing India a massive first innings lead.
The pacer was brought in the place of Umesh Yadav into the team and he made the most of the opportunity. However, he is ruled out of the third test due to a back strain.
Meanwhile, young pacer Shardul Thakur has been called as a replacement.
Just in: Shardul Thakur replaces Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has sustained a back strain, for the third Test against New Zealand #INDvNZ
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 5, 2016
Shardul Thakur is yet to make an appearance for Indian national cricket team in any format but have earlier been called up to the West Indies series back in July-August. The injury to Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a huge blow to Team India ahead of Indore test as it will leave Kohli out with few options to choose from.
The series has not been a great one for India in term of injuries as Ishant Sharma was ruled out due to Chikungunya before the start of the series. The injury saga continued as emerging player KL Rahul has picked up an injury which allowed Gautam Gambhir to return to international cricket after years.
The injuries have not receded as Shikhar Dhawan suffered a minor fracture in his left hand after being hit on the thumb twice in the second innings while batting. The latest to join the list is Bhuvneshwar Kumar who looked legal as he displayed one of the best swing spells by an Indian bowler in recent years.
Kumar’s spell helped India to get a tight hold in the match as they won the match comprehensively by 178 runs and have gone on to clinch No.1 rankings in the test. The swing bowler was expected to play a huge role in Indore test but with him being ruled out of the remainder of the test series, Virat Kohli might go back to Umesh Yadav who was dropped for the second test in favor of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.