Bhuvneshwar faces back strain, Shardul Thakur replaces  

New Delhi: In a huge setback to Indian Cricket team, the in-form pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been ruled out of the final Test match against New Zealand owing to back strain. He has been replaced by Shardul Thakur for the third Test beginning October 8 in Indore.

Bhuvi was is in tremendous form and had claimed six wickets in the second Test encounter against Kiwis. It was Bhuvneshwar’s fourth five wicket haul.

It could be mentioned here that openers Shikhar Dhawana and KL Rahul had already been ruled out while Ishant Sharma had already been down with chikungunya.

Shardul Thakur, who was firstly called up during IndvsWI Test series, will yet again look for a chance in the playing 11.

Virat Kohli and brigade is roaring reclaiming top spot in the ICC Test Rankings. Black Caps faced 178-run defeat in Kolkata while India defeated visitors by 197 runs in Kanpur.

Men in White have taken an inaccessible 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

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