Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Credits: Twitter)

India have suffered a huge setback ahead of the third and final T20I against India as an injury has ruled out their pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Speaking during the toss, India skipper Virat Kohli revealed the reason behind Bhuvneshwar’s absence from the series- decider.

The 29-year old said that the right-arm pacer is suffering from a stiff back and has been replaced by Siddharth Kaul. The Men in Blue have made another change to the playing eleven that lost the second T20I. Deepak Chahar has been included in the team in place of chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm spinner had taken 5 for 24 in the first T20I but had gone wicketless for 34 runs in the last game.

 

“Bhuvi has a stiff back. Kaul replaces him. Deepak Chahar makes his debut. He is a new guy, swings the ball both ways and comes in for Kuldeep. Looking at the dimensions and the breeze flowing, we thought we will play an extra seamer. You have to weigh your options. What the best balance of the side would be,” Kohli said at the toss.

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IND vs ENG, 3rd T20I: Virat Kohli Reveals The Reason Behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Kuldeep Yadav's Absence From Playing XI For Series-Decider

Speaking about Kuldeep’s absence, Kohli said:

“Unfortunate for Kuldeep to miss out but he has three ODI games left and he is as lethal as he has ever been. It is just about the balance of the side. A great opportunity for others. Looking at the World Cup in 10 or 12 months time, it is going to be paramount how these young players react in pressure situations. It is about how they show their character and that is what the management and me will have to see.”

India, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back to win the game after the loss in the last game. A win in the third game will help India win their sixth consecutive T20I series, which will extend their unbeaten run stretching back to September 2017. The last time India lost a bilateral T20I contest was against West Indies in July 2017.

IND vs ENG, 3rd T20I: Virat Kohli Reveals The Reason Behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Kuldeep Yadav's Absence From Playing XI For Series-Decider
Credits: BCCI

 

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