World Cup 2019: Twitter demands 'Bring Back Rahane' to replace injured Shikhar Dhawan

While the team management has not yet named any replacement for Dhawan, Indian cricket fans on Twitter wants Ajinkya Rahane to be brought back

Team India received a major blow ahead of the clash against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. In-form opener Shikhar Dhawan, on Tuesday, was ruled out of at least 2 matches after his left thumb was found to have a hairline fracture. Dhawan sustained the injury during the game against Australia on Sunday where he slammed 117 off 109 balls. The left-hander played through pain after being hit on his left thumb by a rising delivery from pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile. He didn't take the field due to the injury during the clash and Ravindra Jadeja fielded in his place for the entire 50 overs. He underwent scans here in which the fracture came to light. While the team management has not yet named any replacement for Dhawan, Indian cricket fans on Twitter wants Ajinkya Rahane to be brought back. India’s vice-captain in Tests, who also featured in the 2015 World Cup, last donned the blue jersey on February 16 in an ODI match against South Africa. Since then, he has been away from the limited-over formats. However, the 31-year-old showed some decent performances in the recently concluded IPL (including a century against Delhi Capitals) and now the fans want him to bat for India in England. Here are the reactions:

@BCCI plz. Replace Ajinkya Rahane to replace Injured one

— MAHENDRA TULE (@tule_b) June 11, 2019

Rahane is one of the best class player he deserves @cricketworldcup

— Chowkidar Swarup Lodha (@swarup_lodha) June 11, 2019

With @SDhawan25 out we need to get @ajinkyarahane88 back into the @cricketworldcup squad as he can play as an opener and also can bat at 4. He is also in England and has been doing well for @hantscricket.#BringBackRahane #TeamIndia @BCCI @100MasterBlastr

— Prathamesh Barah (@Barahism) June 11, 2019

After @SDhawan25's exit from the World Cup....who's the best replacement?? Ajinkya Rahane @ajinkyarahane88 !#BringBackRahane *Recommended by Shaktimaan pic.twitter.com/phFePKubQc

— Vivek Rai (@vivekrai_qro) June 11, 2019

If anyone should replace Dhawan it has to be Rahane.#BringBackRahane #TeamIndia #CWC19 @cricketworldcup @BCCI

— Monu (@themanutdbuff) June 11, 2019

#BringBackRahane pic.twitter.com/gcsQ59HmAE

— Ammar Jawadwala (@amazammar_ammar) June 11, 2019

#ShikharDhawan चोटिल हैं.. आगे खेलना मुश्किल लग रहा है। स्टैंड बाई में भले कई खिलाड़ी हों लेकिन @ajinkyarahane88 से बेहतर शायद ही कोई हो। उन्हें नंबर 1 और नंबर चार दोनों पर खेलने का अनुभव है।#BringBackRahane

— शशांक शेखर (@Ishashank100mb) June 11, 2019

Since India play Afghanistan on June 22 in Southampton, which is six days after the Pakistan game in Manchester on June 16, Dhawan will get at least 11 days time to recover. Even if Dhawan misses the Afghanistan game, the next match against West Indies in Manchester is on June 27, which gives him another six days' time to recover. The Indian team has KL Rahul, a specialist opener who can join Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. In that case, one among Vijay Shankar or Dinesh Karthik will come in the middle-order for the next two games.