Goalkeeper Sreejesh out of Champions Trophy hockey

New Delhi: India suffered a big setback before their first Champions Trophy match on Saturday when their No. 1 goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Sreejesh pulled his hamstring during the bronze medal playoff match against Pakistan in Lanco Super 9s International series. He will be replaced by Sushant Tirkey, who was the 'Goalkeeper of the Tournament' in the recently concluded Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia.

India take on England in their first appearance in the Champions Trophy in six years, after receiving a wild card entry for this edition held in Melbourne.

"Tirkey has already been rushed to Australia after we learned about Sreejesh's injury. He left yesterday," a Hockey India official told IBNLive.