Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the five-match T20I series that begins the full tour of New Zealand on January 24, claimed a report in ESPNcricinfo, as the Indian opener didn't travel with the rest of the squad that left for Auckland on Monday (January 20), although selectors haven't named his replacement yet. 

This isn't the happiest phase of Dhawan's career with his indifferent form coinciding with injuries. The left-hand batsman was ruled out midway through the World Cup in UK last year because of a thumb fracture and on comeback struggled for runs in the T20I series versus South Africa and Bangladesh before going down again following a knee injury while playing for Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. 

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He subsequently missed the West Indies ODI and T20I series in December when KL Rahul challenged him by claiming a regular spot at the top of the order. 

Dhawan finally came back with a bang, scoring three consecutive half-centuries, including two against a strong Australian bowling attack in the ODI series this month. However, during the final ODI of that rubber in Bangalore, Dhawan hurt his shoulder badly while fielding in the first half and couldn't bat in the run-chase, an injury that now threatens to jeopardise his whole New Zealand tour. 

The 34-year-old has been limited to just white-ball cricket at the highest level since being dropped from the Test side after the 2018 England tour. 

(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)