Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI and Test series against New Zealand due to a calf injury. The Indian opener had sustained the injury during the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
Rohit retired hurt after scoring a 41-ball 60, his 25th fifty-plus score in the format; he pulled his calf muscle while running between the wickets in the 17th over India’s innings. The 33-year-old didn’t take the field in the second innings, and KL Rahul fulfilled the leadership role during New Zealand’s chase. “He [Rohit] is out of the tour,” a top BCCI source told PTI.
Mayank Agarwal, who made his ODI debut against the West Indies in December last year, has been named as Rohit’s replacement in the ODI squad. However, the Indian squad for the New Zealand tour is yet to be announced.
Rohit has now become the second Indian player to be ruled out of the ODI series against the Black Caps after Shikhar Dhawan.
Rohit Sharma missing both ODIs and Tests is a huge setback for India. Mayank Agrawal will replace him for ODIs so effectively both of India’s first choice openers – Rohit and Shikhar – won’t be in the ODI XI #INDvsNZ
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 3, 2020
Meanwhile, Rohit, who had sealed his spot as Test opener thanks to some stunning performances at home, will also miss the two-match Test series against New Zealand later this month.
After whitewashing the hosts in the T20Is, India will play 3 ODIs against New Zealand starting February 5.
