New Delhi: Indian team have suffered a huge blow as White-ball captain and Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma has suffered a hamstring injury and has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against South Africa later this month.
The BCCI hasn’t announced a stand-in vice-captain but KL Rahul is expected to take up the role, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Rishabh Pant being the other two picks for the team management. Meanwhile, India A captain Priyank Panchal has replaced the senior opening batsman in the team.
“Team India Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma sustained a left hamstring injury during his training session here in Mumbai yesterday. He has been ruled out of the upcoming 3-match Test series against South Africa. Priyank Panchal will replace Rohit Sharma in the Test squad,” BCCI stated in a press release.
NEWS – Priyank Panchal replaces injured Rohit Sharma in India's Test squad.
Rohit sustained a left hamstring injury during his training session here in Mumbai yesterday. He has been ruled out of the upcoming 3-match Test series against South Africa.#SAvIND | @PKpanchal9 pic.twitter.com/b8VgoN52LW
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 13, 2021
Panchal, who was earlier also a part of India’s extended squad for the four-Test series against England at home as a stand-by player. As part of India A, he has also worked closely with current head coach Rahul Dravid and has been a part of a very successful Gujarat team that won the Ranji Trophy under Parthiv Patel.
The BCCI senior selection committee has appointed Rohit as the new ODI captain and Test vice-captain of the team. Previously he was appointed as T20I Captain after Virat Kohli stepped down from his role following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
India’s squad for South Africa Tests: Virat Kohli (Captain), Priyank Panchal, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj.
