Dhawan out of Sri Lanka tour

Star batsman Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the remainder of India’s tour of Sri Lanka due to a hand injury, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has confirmed.

The opening batsman’s injury comes as a blow for the tourists, who suffered a shock 63-run loss to Sri Lanka in the first Test after holding a 192-run first-innings lead.

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A statement from the BCCI said Dhawan had undergone tests which confirmed a hairline fracture in his right hand, and was expected to be on the sidelines for four to six weeks.

Dhawan soared to a career-high 32 in the ICC Test batting rankings despite India’s first Test defeat, after scoring 134 in the first innings of the match in Galle.

It followed his 173 in India's one-off Test against Bangladesh in June.

India had already entered the first Test without opener Murali Vijay, who was ruled out with a hamstring niggle. His place was taken by Lokesh Rahul, who was dismissed for 7 and 5.

It is not known whether the right-handed opener will be available for Thursday's second Test, after the BCCI said he was “on the mend” with a decision on his fitness to be made on Wednesday. 

The BCCI, who added Stuart Binny to India’s 15-man squad on Sunday to provide an additional all-round option, have not said whether a replacement for Dhawan will be called up for the second Test, to be played in Colombo.