Will wait on Dhawan, Rahul to open: Sanjay Bangar

TIL Desk Sports/ India’s assistant coach Sanjay Bangar said the team management does not want to rule out injured opener Shikhar Dhawan just as yet, because he is too “precious”, adding that K.L. Rahul will open the batting in his absence.

“We will take at least 10-12 days to take a call on Shikhar’s condition. We don’t want to rule out a precious player like him,” Bangar told the media on the eve of India’s third World Cup clash against New Zealand.

Dhawan suffered the injury after being hit by a Pat Cummins delivery during his 109-ball 117 knock against Australia. While the X-ray didn’t show any fracture, CT scan revealed otherwise and Dhawan was taken to a specialist for further assessment.

Pant, who was initially ignored for Dinesh Karthik when the 15-member squad was picked, has been named as his standby and is expected to fly in to England as cover.