Delhi wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant will be joining the Indian team in England as cover for Shikhar Dhawan who is ruled out of the World Cup due to a fractured thumb.

“Pant will be joining the team at the earliest as back-up as requested by the team management. Like Khaleel (Ahmed) he will be travelling with the team but he won’t be part of the squad just yet,” a BCCI official said. While Pant will reach Nottingham on June 12, a day before India’s match against New Zealand, he will not be considered as a replacement for Dhawan until a final decision is made regarding the latter’s availability through the rest of the tournament. Initially, Pant and Shreyas Iyer were being considered as replacements for Dhawan. England’s former captain Kevin Pietersen suggested, “Shikha OUT the World Cup. Get Pant on the plane ASAP. KL Rahul to open and Pant at number 4.”

India’s opener Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the World Cup for three weeks after he suffered a thumb injury from being hit by a Pat Cummins delivery during his 109-ball 117 knock against Australia on Sunday.