New Delhi: Moments after suffering a thumping 8 wicket defeat to India, England received another jolt. 19 year old opening batsman Haseeb Hameed has been ruled out of the remaining India tour due to a finger injury, confirmed England captain Alstair Cook.
Hameed will go back home to undergo a surgery on his hand.
"Unfortunately, he's got to go home and have a plate put in his hand, it's pretty bad," said Cook in the post-match presentation.
Hameed suffered a nasty injury on the little finger of his left hand when an Umesh Yadav delivery awkwardly bounced off good length during England’s first innings at Mohali.
The 19 year old Indian origin opener showed great character when he made an unbeaten 59 off 156 balls to help England take a 102 run lead in the second innings.
Hameed’s injury will come as a telling blow to an already struggling England side as he had proven to be one, along with Joe Root, who had the necessary technique to stand up against the Indian spinners. Hameed, who made his debut in Rajkot, had an impressive start to his international career with scores of 82 and 59.
With the next Test at Mumbai still 9 days away, it is likely that the England think tank will fly in a replacement for Hameed.