Rishi replaces Bhuvneshwar, Gurkeerat named cover up for Rahane

Sydney, 23 January- India on Saturday named Gurkeerat Singh Mann as the cover for injured batsman Ajinkya Rahane, while replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Rishi Dhawan for the three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series against Australia starting from Tuesday.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Gurkeerat Singh Mann in the India T20I team as a cover up for injured Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane split his webbing on his right hand while fielding in the fourth ODI at Canberra," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

"Meanwhile, the BCCI medical team has confirmed that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been ruled out of India’s tour of Australia after he fractured his left-hand thumb. All-rounder Rishi Dhawan has been included in the T20I team as Bhuvneshwar’s replacement," the statement added.

Uttar Pradesh medium pacer Bhuvneshwar picked up the injury while trying to stop a David Warner straight drive off his own bowling during the fourth ODI in Canberra on Wednesday. The injury forced him out of the fifth ODI in Sydney, with India picking the debutant Jasprit Bumrah in his place.