Dhoni ruled out of Asia Cup owing to injury

Associated Press
India’s MS Dhoni departs for 68 off the bowling of New Zealand’s Trent Boult on the second day of the second cricket test in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday was ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup in Bangladesh due to injury.

Dhoni, who has led India to victories in all three ICC limited overs competitions — the World T20 in 2007, the World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013 — will be replaced by Virat Kohli as captain.

A statement from the Indian cricket board said Dhoni sustained a grade 1 left side strain during the second test against New Zealand in Wellington earlier this week and will undergo rehabilitation for 10 days.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has been named as Dhoni's replacement in the 15-member squad.

Kohli, who is India's premier middle-order batsman in all formats of the game and seen as the captain-in-waiting, has led the team to victory in seven of eight one-day internationals where he has been captain during Dhoni's absence due to injury.

The 25-year-old Kohli, a regular member of Indian limited-overs teams since 2011, has an impeccable record in one-dayers, with 18 centuries in 130 games at an average of 51.85.

Bangladesh will host the Asia Cup from Feb. 25 to March 8 and also the World Twenty20 from March 16-April 6.