Injured Shami ruled out, Bhuvneshwar in for Australia series

Pacer Mohammed Shami was on Saturday ruled out of India's limited-overs cricket series against Australia due to a hamstring injury and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will replace him for the ODIs and Twenty20s starting on January 12

Perth: Pacer Mohammed Shami was on Saturday ruled out of India's limited-overs cricket series against Australia due to a hamstring injury and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will replace him for the ODIs and Twenty20s starting here on January 12. 

"The BCCI medical team confirms that Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of India's tour of Australia due to injury. He sustained a Grade II injury to his left hamstring, which will restrict him from playing active cricket for about 4 to 6 weeks," BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said in a statement.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the replacement, who will join the team tomorrow," he added.

Mohammed Shami during the first net session at the WACA ground in Perth on Thursday. Pic/PTI

Shami sustained the injury during a training session before the warm-up Twenty20 game against Western Australia, which the Indians won yesterday.

The latest breakdown is a massive setback for Shami, who had returned to the side after being sidelined for nine months owing to injuries.

Shami bowled 18 overs and bagged three wickets for Bengal from two matches in the domestic one-day tournament Vijay Hazare Trophy after returning from injury recently.

It can be considered a lucky break for Bhuvneshwar, who was dropped following a poor home series against South Africa last year. The 25-year-old had claimed his seven wickets from five matches at an average of 49.57 and an economy rate of 7.13.

India will play five ODIs and three Twenty20s against the Steve Smith-led Australia.

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