Tendulkar ruled out of ODI series

Sachin Tendulkar will not play the five-ODI series in Sri Lanka after sustaining an injury to his left elbow during the third Test in Colombo. S Badrinath, the Tamil Nadu batsman, will be his replacement.

"I spoke to Sachin and the team physio [Nitin Patel] this morning and I can confirm that Tendulkar has been ruled out of action for two to three weeks," Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, told Cricinfo.

Tendulkar had jarred his elbow while attempting a catch in the 47th over of Sri Lanka's first innings on Saturday, and was quickly taken off. An MRI scan revealed a swelling, and Tendulkar didn't take the field for the rest of the innings. However, he did bat in India's second innings on Sunday, though two places below his customary No. 4 position. Tendulkar was out for 14, which still leaves him 77 short of surpassing Brian Lara as the leading run-getter in Tests.

After missing the Asia Cup in Pakistan due to a groin injury, Tendulkar had been named in the ODI squad for Sri Lanka as well as the Champions Trophy in Pakistan which takes place in September. His last one-day match was the second final of the Commonwealth Bank Series against Australia in Brisbane in March 2008.

Badrinath confirmed his call-up to the national team, and will leave for Sri Lanka on Wednesday. "Yes, I got a call to join the team for the Sri Lanka series and I'm leaving day after," he told Cricinfo. Badrinath said though the Muttiah Muralitharan-Ajantha Mendis spin combination was a testing one, he had the advantage of having faced Murali at the Chennai Super Kings nets during the Indian Premier League earlier this year.

"The injury to Tendulkar is sad and it is very hard to step into his shoes," Badrinath told the Hindu. "I am looking forward to the challenge of playing to the best of my ability. I have worked on my strokes, the innovations over the years. I have picked wickets for my club Jolly Rovers in the TNCA first division league with my off spin. Fielding and fitness are always high on my priority list."

The five-match series will be played from August 18-29.