Rayudu to replace injured Tiwary

The in form Baroda and Mumbai Indian batsman, Ambati Rayudu, has been called up for the first time at international level for India’s Twenty20 squad for two matches against England. He will replace the injured Manoj Tiwary.

The BCCI said in a press release, “Manoj Tiwary has been ruled out of the AIRTEL T20 International Series against England, on account of a side strain. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has picked Ambati Rayudu as his replacement in the Indian team for the series.”

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the UP fast bowler, who had an excellent Ranji trophy and Parvinder Awana, the Delhi pacer, are also included in the squad. However, veterans Virendar Sehwag and Zaheer Khan have been dropped from the squad.

Manoj Tiwary’s injury was diagnosed as a side strain. He got the injury during a Ranji Trophy game on Sunday, while batting in Bengal’s first innings against Saurashtra. Doctors said that the injury will keep him out of action for six weeks.

India squad:Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Piyush Chawla, Ashok Dinda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Laxmipathy Balaji, Parvinder Awana.

Ambati Rayudu will replace injured Manoj Tiwary in the India T20I squad for the series against England #IndvsEng #cricket

— ICC (@cricketicc) December 11, 2012