India vs New Zealand: Bhuvneshwar Kumar ruled out of 3rd Test, Shardul Thakur named replacement

New Delhi: After KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, Team India lost another of their player to injury ahead of the third Test against New Zealand in Indore. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took five wickets in the first innings of the second Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, to set up the match for India, has been ruled out due to back strain. According to a BCCI press release, Bhuvneshwar injured his back during the second Test. Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur will replace him in the squad. Bhuvneshwar took a match haul of six wickets, including a 5-for in the first innings, in the second Test that India won by 178 runs to seal their three-Test series in their favour. It was Bhuvneshwar Kumar's second 5-for in three Tests. It is a big blow to India's pace attack as Ishant Sharma is already out of the series due to chikungunya. Thakur, a prominent figure in Mumbai Ranji team, is yet to play a Test match for India. He was part of the 17-member Test squad that toured West Indies in July-August but couldn't get his debut.