London: Young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will be brought in as a cover for the injured Shikhar Dhawan at the ICC World Cup 2019 in England and Wales, a report said on Wednesday (June 12).

Dhawan, who was hit on his left thumb by a Pat Cummins delivery during the India-Australia match on Sunday (June 9), has been kept under medical observation. He is likely to miss at least two matches (against New Zealand on June 13 and Pakistan on June 16).

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While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had said on Tuesday (June 11) that they will not seek a replacement, now a PTI report said Pant is being flown to England as a cover. However, he won’t be picked in the squad until the team management asks for it.

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“Team India opening batsman Mr Shikhar Dhawan is presently under the observation of the BCCI medical team. The team management has decided that Mr Dhawan will continue to be in England and his progress will be monitored,” BCCI had posted on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday.

"Rishabh Pant is being flown in from India as cover at the request of the team management," a senior BCCI official currently in England told PTI.

Several players including former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, had backed Pant’s inclusion in the 15-man squad if Dhawan fails to recover. Earlier, the Indian selectors had kept Pant on standby as he had missed out on a World Cup berth. Ambati Rayudu is also on the reserves list.