MS Dhoni injured in nets ahead of first ODI vs Australia
Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni could be a doubtful starter for the first ODI against Australia, after suffering an injury to his forearm during practice a day before the game at Hyderabad.
The 37-year-old was reportedly hit by a delivery that bounced higher than expected and struck his right forearm, during a throwdown session by specialist Raghavendra at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium.
According to PTI, the pain was visible on Dhoni's face, and he was forced out of the practice session, not taking any further part.
If Dhoni sits out of the playing XI for the game in Hyderabad, India has the option of handing the keeping gloves to Rishabh Pant. Since Dinesh Karthik is not part of the ODI squad, the other backup option is KL Rahul, although he hasn't kept in one-day cricket as a specialist.
A call on his selection for the first game is expected to be taken on Friday evening by the management.
For Australia, Shaun Marsh won't be available for the first game, as he is in Perth for the birth of his daughter, Mabel Rose Marsh. Left-handed batsman Alex Carey will get a look in for the Australians, with Glenn Maxwell, who scored a century in the last T20I, set to get a promotion up the batting order.
After a two-nil loss in the T20I series that preceded the ODIs, the Indian side will be looking to get some much-needed practice in the 50-over game, their only ODI series before the World Cup starts on May 30 in England.
India's squad for the first two ODIs:
Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (captain), Ambati Rayudu, Lokesh Rahul, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Kuldeep Yadav, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja