Ashok Dinda named Ishant's replacement ahead of 1st Test

Ashok Dinda has been named the replacement for Ishant Sharma, who has contracted viral fever, BCCI said in a statement.

When the Indian team took to the practice session on Tuesday, the noticeable absentee was the lanky pacer Ishant Sharma. The rest of the team practiced at the Motera Stadium in the morning today.

BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale is hopeful that Ishant will recover before the first test. But for precautionary measures, Ashok Dinda has been named as a replacement.

“Ishant Sharma has got viral fever. He is expected to be fit for the first Test between India and England. However, Ashok Dinda has been told to fly to Ahmedabad as a standby,” Jagdale said in a press release.

The team has two others pacers – Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav, and both are expected to play ahead of Sharma or Dinda.