(UTV | INDIA) – Suryakumar Yadav has been ruled out of the upcoming Twenty20 Internationals against Sri Lanka.
He was spotted at India’s practice session in Lucknow on Tuesday but it understands that the 31-year-old batsman has suffered a hairline fracture on his hand and been declared unfit for the white-ball series.
It remains unclear as to where and when exactly Suryakumar got hurt but it’s understood that he sustained the injury while fielding in the third T20I against West Indies at the Eden on February 20.
Suryakumar, who was adjudged Player of the Series in the T20Is against West Indies, is the second Indian player to be out of the Sri Lanka T20Is. Deepak Chahar has also been ruled out of the upcoming games in Lucknow and Dharamsala after picking up a hamstring injury in Kolkata.
After dismissing the West Indies openers in the run chase, Chahar walked off the field holding his hamstring without completing his second over. He’s not travelled with the team to Lucknow.
The BCCI are not expected to name a replacement considering India have already been bolstered by the return of Jasprit Bumrah for this series. Bumrah, who is returning after a break, has also been named vice-captain for the series. Apart from the 28-year-old, India also have Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel in the squad.
Above all, a replacement for either player at this stage will not be possible given the bio-security protocols. Consequently, this leaves India with a 16-member squad for the three white-ball games.
After the first game on February 24, the next two T20Is will be played in Dharamsala on February 26 and 27.
India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan.