SRI LANKA TOUR OF INDIA, 2017

Bhuvneshwar, Dhawan opt out of Nagpur Test due to personal reasons

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will miss the remainder of the Test series against Sri Lanka © BCCI

Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been released from the India Test squad for theSri Lankan series following a request from the duo owing to personal reasons.

Bhuvneshwar will miss the remaining two Tests against Sri Lanka while Dhawan will be available for selection for the third Test, a BCCI media release stated on Monday (November 20).

Vijay Shankar, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder, has been named as the replacement for Bhuvneshwar, who is set to be married on November 23.

A middle order batsman and a useful medium-pace bowler, the 26-year-old Shankar was part of the India A touring party to South Africa where he scored a crucial 72 against South Africa A to help his team clinch the tri-series. He recently came up with useful contributions with the bat in a couple of one-day games against New Zealand A.

Shankar also scored a century for Tamil Nadu against Odisha in the Ranji Trophy while he picked up a four-wicket haul in the game against Mumbai.

Bhuvneshwar was the Man of the Match in the drawn first Test at Eden Gardens, picking up eight wickets in the game while Dhawan scored a brisk 94 in the second innings.

Ishant Sharma, who's also part of the squad, could come in as Bhuvneshwar's replacement for the second Test should India consider three front-line pacers. In Dhawan's absence, Murali Vijay is likely to be slotted in for the opener's position.

India squad for the second Test:Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar.

© Cricbuzz

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