DHAKA: Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh is en route to join Australia's World Cup squad as cover after it was revealed Marcus Stoinis picked up a side strain in the match against India.

Stoinis has been ruled out of the game against Pakistan on Wednesday in Taunton, but Australia will wait to make a call on whether they replace him permanently in their 15-man squad with Marsh.

Stoinis collected 2-62 bowling seven overs as India racked up 5-352 in their 50 overs against Australia at The Oval on Sunday night, including a superb caught-and-bowled effort to remove MS Dhoni while he also had Virat Kohli caught in the deep by Pat Cummins.

He was bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a second-ball duck in Australia's 36-run defeat. He made 19 in his only other innings in the tournament, against the West Indies.

Stoinis has not been officially replaced in Australia's World Cup squad. The International Cricket Council regulations for the World Cup allow an injured player to be replaced, but they cannot later rejoin the squad if they regain full fitness.

Australia captain Aaron Finch said Stoinis would be reassessed ahead of Australia's ensuing match against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Saturday.

"(We're) not exactly sure on how many games he'll miss," said Finch. "That's why Mitch is flying over. It's still being assessed.

"Over the next couple of days we'll have a clearer picture on what that looks like."

Marsh, who is in career-best physical shape, was set to form part of the Australia A squad playing a series of one-day and first-class games in England, which gets underway next week. He also has a domestic T20 stint lined up with county side Glamorgan.

cricket.com.au

BDST: 2007 HRS, JUN 11, 2019
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