Hemang Badani will replace skipper Sourav Ganguly in the Indian team for the first two matches in the Limited Overs International tri-series, beginning on Thursday.

"Ganguly has been ruled out of the first two matches and Hemang Badani will replace him in the side," Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary S K Nair said in a statement, released in Mohali on Monday.

He also said vice-captain Rahul Dravid will lead the side in the absence of Ganguly, who is recovering in Kolkata after undergoing two minor surgeries for an abscess on his left thigh.

India take on New Zealand in the opening match of the series at Chennai on Thursday and will meet World champions Australia at Gwalior on October 26.