India suffered a big jolt in the build-up to their World Cup campaign as their leading pace bowler Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the tournament after failing to recover from a knee injury.
The 26-year-old lanky pacer has been out of action for more than a month since hurting his knee during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. He appeared to have made significant progress but he injured his knee again during the rained off one-day international at Perth on January 26.
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The Indians regrouped on Saturday after a week-long break but Ishant did not take part in the training after failing a fitness test.
However, opener Rohit Sharma (hamstring), seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (ankle) and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (shoulder) who were also on the treatment table came good during the fitness drills conducted by the team management on Saturday.
Chennai Super Kings medium-pacer Mohit Sharma is likely to replace Ishant, though an official communication is awaited.
Mohit and Dhawal Kulkarni were the fast bowlers on standby and they stayed back with the squad after the tri-series. A final word on the replacement is expected on Sunday once the International Cricket Council technical committee approves the Indian request.
A Board of Control for Cricket India source confirmed the development to the India media.
“Ishant has been ruled out and will not recover in time to play the World Cup. As per regulations, we had Mohit Sharma as stand-by and he will be inducted into the World Cup squad. Ishant is likely to return home,” he was quoted by the Press Trust of India.
Meanwhile captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is hoping that a break in a long summer tour of Australia has recharged his men for the World Cup and has not left them “over-cooked”.
India have endured a lengthy and miserable tour Down Under in which they were beaten 2-0 in the four-match Test series and then failed to win a game in the tri-series which also included England.
India played their final tri-series game on January 30 and will begin the defence of their World Cup title against traditional rivals Pakistan on February 15 in Adelaide.
India take on Australia in a warm-up match in Adelaide on Sunday.
