The BCCI confirmed Shankar's injury in a media release, "Vijay sustained a non-displaced fracture of the left big toe, which will require a minimum of three weeks to heal. The injury rules him out of the ongoing World Cup.""
Shankar was hit by a yorker from Jasprit Bumrah during a training session just before India's game against Afghanistan on June 22. However, the team management had then mentioned that he was fit to continue playing. "Unfortunate he got hit, but he's okay. He's fine,"" Bumrah had then said.
Shankar was drafted into the playing eleven for the game against Pakistan owing to Shikhar Dhawan himself being ruled out of the World Cup due to a thumb injury. KL Rahul took Dhawan's place at the top with Shankar slotting into the number four position. Against Pakistan at Old Trafford, Shankar scored a run-a-ball 15* after coming in to bat at the death before claiming the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq with his very first ball. He continued to be a part of the eleven in the matches against Afghanistan and West Indies, but threw away settled starts of 29 and 14, respectively.
However, when India played England at Edgbaston yesterday, Shankar was ruled out of the match as the injury had not healed completely. Rishabh Pant - who was called up to replace Dhawan in the squad - was drafted in at number four, scoring a quick 32. Despite having senior batsman Dinesh Karthik in the squad, Pant will likely be preferred for that position in India's upcoming games against Bangladesh tomorrow and Sri Lanka on July 5.
Interestingly, Ambati Rayudu was again left out despite being in tournament the reserves for India. At the time of squad selection, chief selector MSK Prasad had pointed out how Shankar was a "three-dimensional" cricketer, an aspect which worked in favor of the latter. But the calling up of Agarwal suggests that India looking at an extra opener in the squad with Rahul sitting out a major part of England's innings against India yesterday, having hurt his back while attempting a catch on the boundary.
Agarwal, though uncapped in limited-overs cricket, made his India debut in Tests against Australia at the MCG last December, filling in for an injured Prithvi Shaw. In two Tests, he has scored 195 runs at 65 with two half-centuries and is regarded as an explosive one-day opener. Agarwal was initially named in the India A squad for the third four-day game in the West Indies but is now set to join the senior team in England.
World Cup 2019: Vijay Shankar ruled out with injured toe; Mayank Agarwal called up
All-rounder Vijay Shankar has been ruled out of the ongoing World Cup owing to a toe injury in his left foot. In his place, India have called up opening batsman Mayank Agarwal, who will be joining the squad later this week.