Injured Shikhar Dhawan ruled out of Indore Test, Karun Nair picked

Kolkata: India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the third and final Test against New Zealand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) media manager said in Kolkata on Monday.

Promising Karnataka batsman Karun Nair, who played two ODIs for India, today replaced Dhawan in the Indian squad for the third and final Test against New Zealand at Indore, starting October 8.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee have named batsman Karun Nair as the replacement for injured opener Shikhar Dhawan in the Indian team," BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke said in a statement.

The third Test starts from Saturday in Indore. India have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Dhawan suffered a fracture on his left thumb after he was hit twice by New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult in the third over of India's second innings on Sunday and has been advised at least 15 days' rest.

India won thje Test by 178 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing three-Test series at the Eden Gardens on Monday.

"A very minor fracture has occurred and he has been recommended 15 days rest, which effectively rules him out of the next Test," said India's media manager after the match.

Yesterday, the left-handed opener took blows on his bottom hand thumb twice with the ball rising awkwardly. He survived some anxious moments, managing to open his account after 14 balls, and the swollen thumb had to be taped. He was soon rushed to a city hospital for x-ray.

He did not take the field today when New Zealand were batting in their second innings.