ICC World Cup 2019: Sunil Gavaskar and Gautam Gambhir name Shikhar Dhawan’s replacement

Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian team was jolted with a massive blow as Shikhar Dhawan has been all but ruled out of the 2019 edition of the World Cup in England and Wales. The 33-year-old copped a blow on his thumb off a bouncer from Pat Cummins. Thereafter, he scored a century to help India post 352 on the board. However, he didn’t field and Ravindra Jadeja was his substitute.

He underwent scans today and a fracture has been confirmed. An official privy to the development told that Rishabh Pant would be flying to England. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is set to be Dhawan’s replacement provided the latter gets ruled out of the mega event. The official mentioned that the 33-year-old batsman’s injury is worse enough to call for a replacement.

Gavaskar and Gambhir make their picks

In the meantime, Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian cricketer, reckons Pant as the appropriate replacement owing to his impressive form in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals (DC). Gavaskar said that Pant would want to prove the reasons why he should have been picked in the first place.

“It has to be Rishabh Pant. He has been in cracking hot form in the IPL. He would probably want to show that he deserved to be in the team in the first place,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying in Told Today when asked to make his choice.

“But if Shikhar and the doctors say that he can be fit in the next 18 days, then I would wait for him even if it means he sits out of the England game (June 30). Shikhar has shown that his pain threshold is high. For your country you bear the pain, you mentally strengthen and control yourself,” he added.

Meanwhile, another retired Indian cricketer, Gautam Gambhir, mentioned that Ambati Rayudu should be Dhawan’s replacement. Gambhir didn’t mince any words in saying that Rayudu should shelve his hopes of an international return and only focus on playing the IPL if he doesn’t get selected.

“If Ambati Rayudu doesn’t make it as Shikhar’s replacement then his career is over. He averages 45 in ODIs and not being part of the World Cup with that average is very disappointing. If he doesn’t make it, then he should pack his bags and only concentrate on the IPL because his international career is over,” Gambhir was quoted as saying in Star Sports.