India vs Sri Lanka 2014: Mohammed Shami injured, Dhawal Kulkarni named as replacement

Dhawal Kulkarni

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have named Dhawal Kulkarni as the replacement for the injured Mohammed Shami for the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka, which begins on November 2 at Cuttack.

The nature and extent of Shami’s injury is unknown, but the absence of the 24-year-old will be a big loss to the Indian cricket team, considering he is the highest wicket-taker this calender year with 38 scalps to his name. The Bengal pacer was also the most successful bowler in the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies, picking up 10 wickets at an average of 17.40.

Kulkarni, who was in the ODI squad that toured England last month, has an impressive List A record. He has 83 wickets from 53 List A matches at an average of just over 26. The 25-year-old was the pick of the bowlers in the final of the Quadrangular A-Team One-Day Series in Australia, with figures of 3/51.

The Mumbai pacer made his international debut last month against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham but went wicketless. He will be hoping to get an opportunity to break his duck on the wicket taking front in the ODIs against Sri Lanka.

News Alert: Dhawal Kulkarni replaces injured Mohd Shami in the ODI squad for the first three matches against Sri Lanka #INDvsSL

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 27, 2014