India vs South Africa: KL Rahul named vice captain for upcoming Test series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named KL Rahul as India’s vice-captain for the three-match Test series in South Africa, which begins on December 26. Rohit strained his hamstring during a training session before the team’s trip to South Africa. The BCCI confirmed earlier this week in an official press release that Rohit had been ruled out due to a left hamstring injury. Due to a hamstring injury, the star batter also missed a limited-overs series in Australia last year. 

“The All-India Senior selection committee has named KL Rahul as vice-captain for the upcoming 3-match Test series against South Africa. KL Rahul replaces Rohit Sharma as vice-captain, who was ruled out of the Test series owing to a hamstring injury,” the BCCI stated in a press release on Saturday.

NEWS – KL Rahul named vice-captain of Test team for South Africa series.

KL Rahul replaces Rohit Sharma as vice-captain, who was ruled out of the Test series owing to a hamstring injury.

More details here – https://t.co/7dHbFf74hG #SAvIND | @klrahul11 pic.twitter.com/6pQPTns9C7

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 18, 2021

The first Test of the series will take place in Centurion on Boxing Day. It will be followed by the second Test on January 3 in Johannesburg and the third and final Test on January 11 in Cape Town. Following the Test series, India will face the Proteas in three ODIs.

ROHIT’S INJURY

Rohit, who had been practising at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, was injured during one of those practise sessions, it has been revealed. It is still unclear whether he will be available for the three-match One-Day International series, for which he was named captain.

When he spoke about the limited-overs captaincy in an interview with bcci.tv on Sunday, Rohit expressed his displeasure to the support staff during the practise session. The physiotherapists performed the tests on Monday, which revealed the seriousness of the injury.

Rohit did not check into the Mumbai hotel where the South Africa-bound squad is being quarantined. According to reports, the BCCI has relaxed bio-security protocols for those travelling with their families and staying in Mumbai. They have been advised to return home for quarantine.

PANCHAL NAMED ROHIT REPLACEMENT

The BCCI has also named Priyank Panchal, Gujarat and India A captain for two of the three four-day matches played recently in South Africa, as Rohit’s replacement for the Test series.

“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,” said the BCCI release at that time.

Panchal, the opening batter from Gujarat, scored 120 runs for India A in three innings at an average of 40, including a high score of 96 against South Africa A. He has played in 100 first-class matches, scoring 7011 runs at an average of 45.52 and scoring 24 centuries.

India squad for SA Test series: Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Md. Siraj.