Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan, who played crucial roles in the Kolkata Test vs Sri Lanka, have asked for a break due to personal reasons.
(AP photo)Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan have been released from the Test squad after Sri Lanka escaped with a draw against India in the first Test of the three-match series at Eden Gardens on Monday.
Bhuvneshwar and Dhawan requested for a break from the selectors and the team management citing personal reasons, according to a statement by BCCI.
While Vijay Shankar has been named as a replacement for Bhuvneshwar, Dhawan will be available for selection for the third Test at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.
NEWS - Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan released from Indian Test team. Vijay Shankar has been named as Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s replacement in the squad #INDvSL
- BCCI (@BCCI) November 20, 2017
The duo made a request to the selectors and the team management to release them owing to personal reasons.
- BCCI (@BCCI) November 20, 2017
Mr. Dhawan is available for selection for the third Test.
- BCCI (@BCCI) November 20, 2017
According to reports, Bhuvneshwar is going to take the nuptial vows with his fiancee Nupur Nagar for which he is taking the break.
Bhuvneshwar was earlier engaged to his 'better-half' Nupur Nagar on October 4 in a ceremony in Greater Noida, which was a closed affair and was attended only by family members and friends. Bhuvneshwar had posted a photo of him along with his fiancee, on his official Instagram account with the caption, "Rewinding and going back to the happy memories, inspires me to fast forward and dream about the amazing future that lies ahead."
He had introduced Nupur to the world by posting a picture of the couple's fancy dinner date, which dated back to May 11 this year.
Bhuvneshwar was key to India's exploits in the Kolkata Test as he finished with eight wickets, four in each innings.
Having put up a score of 352 in the second innings, courtesy a brilliant hundred from captain Virat Kohli, India declared with a lead of 231 runs.
It was then that India's pace battery rocked Sri Lanka. Bhuvneshwar created opportunities and picked wickets at regular intervals to turn the heat on for the islanders.
Bhuvneshwar conceded after the match that it was his hard work over fitness that was showing results.
Dhawan also played a crucial part in the Indian fightback in the second innings where he scored a brilliant 94 off 116 deliveries.
Even though he missed out on his seventh Test hundred, it was his strong innings along with KL Rahul that began India's revival.