Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup and replaced in England's squad by Eoin Morgan because his hernia surgery is more urgent than initially suspected.
The 30-year-old Pietersen had been scheduled for surgery after the tournament, but his condition worsened after batting and bowling in England's six-run, Group B win over South Africa on Sunday night.
In a Tweet to confirm what he called the "breaking news," Pietersen said: "I fly home tonight. Out of the WC & IPL.. Absolutely devastated!!"
"Sad to leave India.. Love the people & the hospitality," he continued. "Not a lot u can do about injuries."
The International Cricket Council later approved England's request to replace Pietersen with the 24-year-old Morgan, who would have been in England's original 15-man squad but for a broken finger.
The Ireland-born limited-overs specialist has scored 1160 runs at an average of 40 in 38 one-day internationals. Morgan starred for England when the team won the World Twenty20 in the West Indies last May and the left-hander will bolster England's middle-order with his vast array of clever shots, including the reverse sweep.
The England team was traveling to Bangladesh on Monday to prepare for Friday's match against the tournament co-hosts.
Pietersen, who will return to England immediately, was diagnosed with the hernia problem after his team's 6-1 limited-overs series loss in Australia. The surgery requires six weeks recovery.
His injury was only confirmed after training on Saturday. Although he faced just three balls and scored two runs against South Africa before becoming the second opener to fall inside the first over, he bowled eight overs on a spin-friendly pitch to help England successfully defend 171.
His Tweet suggested he will also miss the Indian Premier League, where he had been expected to play for the Deccan Chargers, who bid $650,000 for his contract at the recent IPL auction.
The IPL begins April 8, six days after the World Cup final.
Pietersen scored 39, 31 and 59 opening in England's other three tournament matches against the Netherlands, India and Ireland.
He is likely to recover in time for England's first summer test against Sri Lanka from May 26.
