India vs West Indies: Umesh Yadav replaces injured Shardul Thakur in ODI squad

Fast bowler Umesh Yadav has been named as the replacement for the injured Shardul Thakur in India’s ODI squad against the West Indies, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Tuesday.

Thakur, who made his Test debut in the second Test against West Indies, suffered a right adductor tendon injury only 10 balls into his first match and was forced to leave the field on the opening day of the Test.

He broke down in the fourth ball of his second over hobbling through pain and was taken off the field.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Umesh Yadav as Shardul Thakur’s replacement in India’s squad for the first two ODIs against Windies,” said a statement from the cricket body.

“Shardul has suffered a right adductor tendon injury and has been ruled out of the (5-match) ODI series,” added the statement.

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While the injury comes as a blow for Thakur, who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2017, the ODI call-up for Umesh comes as a reward for his match-winning 10 wicket haul in the second Test against the Windies in Hyderabad.

The performance, his maiden 10-wicket haul, made Umesh the third Indian pacer after Kapil Dev and Javagal Srinath to claim 10 wickets in a Test match at home.

Umesh’s last ODI appearance came against England in July at Lord’s. He was, however, not part of India’s victorious Asia Cup campaign. He has so far taken 105 wickets in 73 ODI matches for India.

Meanwhile, it was for the second time in consecutive international matches that the 26-year-old broke down complaining of injury. He was earlier sent home from the Asia Cup after he had complained of a hip injury after the Hong Kong game.

India squad for first two ODI matches: 

Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav.