 "Ishant Sharma")
Senior India pacer Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of next month's two-Test series in New Zealand after sustaining an ankle tear during a Ranji Trophy game at Arun Jaitley Stadium, a Delhi state cricket association official said on Tuesday.
Ishant, playing for Delhi, had twisted his ankle on his follow through while bowling against Vidarbha on Monday. The Test series against New Zealand is scheduled to start from February 21 in Wellington.
"Ishant Sharma's MRI report shows a Grade 3 ankle tear and it is serious. He has been advised six weeks of rest and rehabilitation. It is indeed a big blow," DDCA general secretary Vinod Tihara told PTI.
Another DDCA official added: "Luckily there is no fracture. There is an ankle tear. The moment he is in a position to walk, he will travel to NCA."
However, the Indian cricket board is yet to issue a statement on Ishant's injury.
"It's a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in BCCI as we will again do his MRI to ascertain degree of tear and decide on his rehabilitation," a BCCI source said.
Fellow Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini is likely to replace the 96-Test veteran in the Test squad.
Ishant was in the middle of his second Ranji Trophy this season, having played the opening home game against Hyderabad last month.
The 31-year-old is an integral part of arguably India's best ever pace attack comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav.
India tour of New Zealand 2020 full schedule
| T20 International Series | |||
| Date and Day | Match | venue | Time (IST) |
| Jan 24, Friday | 1st T20 | Eden Park, Auckland | 12:30 PM |
| Jan 26, Sunday | 2nd T20 | Eden Park, Auckland | 12:30 PM |
| Jan 29, Wednesday | 3rd T20 | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 12:30 PM |
| Jan 31, Friday | 4th T20 | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | 12:30 PM |
| Feb 02, Sunday | 5th T20 | Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui | 12:30 PM |
| One Day International Series | |||
| Date and Day | Match | venue | Time (IST) |
| Feb 05, Wednesday | 1st ODI | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 7:30 AM |
| Feb 08, Saturday | 2nd ODI | Eden Park, Auckland | 7:30 AM |
| Feb 11, Tuesday | 3rd ODI | Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui | 7:30 AM |
| Test Series | |||
| Date and Day | Match | venue | Time (IST) |
| Feb 21, Fri - Feb 25, Tue | 1st Test | Basin Reserve, Wellington | 4:00 AM |
| Feb 29, Sat - Mar 04, Wed | 2nd Test | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 4:00 AM |
