Ishant Sharma is recovering from chikungunya. The first Test between India and New Zealand will begin on September 22 at Kanpur. Team India has not announced Ishant's replacement for the first Test.
India's senior-most fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand, starting September 22, due to chikungunya, the Indian head coach Anil Kumble revealed on Tuesday.
"Ishant Sharma is recovering from chikungunya and will not be available for the first Test. We have not asked for any replacement and will choose our first XI from the available 14," Kumble today told media persons after the training session.
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Chikungunya fever has affected a lot of people in Delhi and adjoining areas with state's health department issuing alerts for the citizen.
Ishant is a resident of West Delhi's Patel Nagar area. Ishant is the most experienced of India's four pacers with 209 wickets from 72 Tests.
If India happen to go in with two pacers, then the likely choices will be Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
India and New Zealand are set to play three-Test series. The matches will be played at Kanpur, Kolkata and Indore. New Zealand, who are yet to win a Test series on the Indian soil, last won a Test in India was back in 1988. The Tests will be followed by four ODIs.
