Pandya injured, Pujara scores T20 century and more - Cricket News Today, 21st February 2019

Welcome to Cricket News Today - a succinct compilation of all the significant developments from the world of cricket in each day.

India will have to make do without the services of pace all-rounder Hardik Pandya for their upcoming T20I and ODI series against Australia. The 25-year-old has been ruled out of both series due to a stiff back. The selectors have named a spin bowling all-rounder as his replacement for the ODI series.

Meanwhile, Indian batsmen Shreyas Iyer and Cheteshwar Pujara have broken numerous T20 records during their respective matches in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Here are all of today's top news from the cricket world.

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Gavaskar urges India to not boycott Pakistan match in World Cup

Sunil Gavaskar has cautioned India against forfeiting the group match against Pakistan

Legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar has urged India to not boycott the World Cup match against Pakistan. The 69-year-old pointed to the fact that the Men in Blue would lose two points if they forfeit the group stage clash against their arch-rivals.

"Who wins if India decide against playing Pakistan in the World Cup? And I am not even talking about the semis and the finals. Who wins? Pakistan win because they get two points," Gavaskar told India Today.

The veteran elaborated, "India have so far beaten Pakistan every time in a World Cup, so we are actually conceding two points when by beating Pakistan, we could make sure that they don't advance in the competition. (But) I am with the country, whatever the government decides, I am with it totally. If the country wants we shouldn't play Pakistan, I am with them."

India are scheduled to play Pakistan at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester on June 16.

Pujara scores T20 century; joins elite list of Indian batsmen

Cheteshwar Pujara hammered a century off 61 balls against Railways

Cheteshwar Pujara has made a statement of intent by scoring a T20 century in Saurashtra's group match against Railways in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The technically accomplished batsman remained unbeaten on 100 from 61 balls.

Despite Pujara's career-best T20 score, Saurashtra lost the match. Railways eked out a hard-fought five-wicket victory with two balls to spare.

Read more on Cheteshwar Pujara's monumental feat here

With his maiden T20 century, Pujara has joined an elite list of Indian batsmen. He became only the fourth cricketer from India to compile a triple century (first-class), 150-plus score (List-A) and century (T20). The others to achieve this unique treble across formats were Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal.

Shreyas Iyer smashes the highest T20 score by an Indian batsman

Shreyas Iyer tore the hapless Sikkim bowling attack to shreds

Shreyas Iyer has smashed the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in all T20 cricket. The Mumbai batsman broke Rishabh Pant's record by hammering a 55-ball 147 against Sikkim in a Group C match in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Iyer smacked 15 sixes and 7 boundaries in his whirlwind knock. His blistering knock propelled Mumbai to a colossal total of 258 for the loss of just four wickets. In response, Sikkim could only manage 104 runs from their 20 overs.

The previous best score by an Indian batsman in T20 cricket was held by Rishabh Pant. The dynamic southpaw had registered a rapid 128 in an IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 season.

Hardik Pandya ruled out of T20I and ODI series against Australia

Hardik Pandya will miss India's upcoming series against Australia due to a stiff back

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been sidelined from the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Australia. The hard-hitting batsman will miss India's last series before the World Cup due to lower back stiffness.

Read more on Hardik Pandya's injury and Ravindra Jadeja's inclusion here

The Indian selectors have not named a replacement for Pandya for the two-match T20I series. However, they have called up left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja to replace the seaming all-rounder for the five-match ODI series.

Pandya's injury means India will not be able to decide on their first-choice ODI lineup even as the 2019 World Cup looms large. In the absence of the Baroda cricketer, Vijay Shankar is now the only seam bowling all-rounder in the squad.

The first T20I between India and Australia is slated to be held on February 24 in Visakhapatnam.