Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been ruled of the third India-New Zealand Test with a back strain, and Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur has been drafted in as his replacement for the dead rubber in Indore. Another pacer, Ishant Sharma was already ruled out of the series before a ball was bowled, after being diagnosed with the mosquito-borne infection, chikungunya, stated a report from ESPNCricinfo.

Thakur had already earned his first call up, which was during India's tour of West Indies that preceded the ongoing series, but did not play any of the four Tests. Kumar was one of India's heroes as they registered a 178-run win in Kolkata to take an unassailable lead in the three-match series, picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan has also been ruled out of the third Test after a thumb injury, with Karnataka batsman Karun Nair floated in as a replacement.