Ishant Sharma ruled out of World Cup, Mohit expected to replace the Delhi pacer

Ishant Sharma is ruled out due to a knee injury

Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, due to a knee injury which he suffered during the Test series against Australia over a month ago. The 26-year-old missed the fourth Test at Sydney last month and did not bowl a single delivery during the Carlton Mid tri-series, which also involved England.

Ishant was named in the XI for the clash against the hosts on January 26, but he didn’t get to bowl as the match was called off after just 16 overs due to a heavy downpour. The Delhi pacer made his ODI debut back in 2007 but is yet to play for the Men in Blue at the World Cup.

With Ishant ruled out, it is widely expected that he will be replaced by Haryana seamer Mohit Sharma. The Chennai Super Kings bowler did feature for India in the final group stage match in the tri-series against England last week and impressed in the game, finishing with figures of 2/36 in 10 overs.

In some good news for India, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja have all been cleared fit to play in the mega event. Rohit had been suffering from a hamstring injury after hitting a century in India's first match of the Carlton Mid tri-series, but passed a fitness test on Saturday.

Bhuvneshwar (ankle) and Jadeja (shoulder), on the other hand, have been long-term fitness worries. The former missed the first three Tests against the Aussies and looked very lacklustre in the fourth Test at the SCG. Jadeja, on the hand, didn’t play any part in the Test series.

India begin their World Cup campaign with a match against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 15 at the Adelaide Oval.