NEW DELHI, Oct 20: Indian captain Sourav Ganguly will miss the start of the one-day tri-series against Australia and New Zealand this week due to an infection in the groin area, it was announced on Monday.

Ganguly has been ruled out of the tri-series opener against New Zealand at Madras on Thursday and the second match against Australia at Gwalior on Sunday, Indian cricket board secretary Karunakaran Nair said.

“Sourav will not be playing the first two matches and will be replaced by Tamil Nadu left-hander Hemang Badani,” Nair said.

Vice captain Rahul Dravid, who led India in the drawn second Test against New Zealand which ended in Mohali Monday, will captain the team in the tri-series in Ganguly’s absence, Nair added.

Ganguly was also doubtful for the third match of the series against Australia at Bombay on Nov 1.—AFP