Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the second Test against Bangladesh starting in Mirpur on December 22. The India skipper, who has missed the first Test in Chattogram, will no longer be travelling to Dhaka. Vice-captain KL Rahul will continue to lead the team in his absence in the second and final Test of the series which India lead 1-0.

The news of Rohit’s unavailability emerged on Monday (December 19) after it was found that the skipper’s thumb, which was injured during the second ODI of the ongoing tour, has not fully healed. He seems to be suffering from a little bit of stiffness. Considering the important assignments ahead for the Indian team, the BCCI, the selection committee and the team management have decided not to risk him at this stage.

It is learnt that Rohit, currently in Mumbai, would have managed to bat through the Test but concerns remained over the risk involved while fielding. The medical team and the team management felt that injury could get serious on the field if he gets hurt again on that thumb. When asked about the likelihood of Rohit’s availability for the second Test, Rahul had said he was still waiting for the details. “We may be able to know in the next day or two, even I am not aware of it,” the vice-captain had said at the press conference after the first Test on Sunday.

The immediate impression is that he will be available for the white ball series (three T20Is and three ODIs) against Sri Lanka starting on January 3.

Rohit suffered a blow to his thumb while trying to take a catch in the slips in the second ODI, following which the BCCI medical team assessed him and rushed him to Mumbai for treatment on December 7. He has been undergoing treatment in the city since.

Rohit’s absence may have solved a major selection headache for the team management ahead of the second Test as a decision on the player to leave out would not have been easy. India won the first Test by 188 runs with Shubman Gill scoring his maiden Test hundred while stand-in captain and fellow opener KL Rahul had a quiet game with the bat.

Meanwhile, the Indian team travelled to Dhaka from Chattogram on Monday morning. They will practice over the next two days before the start of the Test on Thursday (December 22).