Rohit Sharma out of South Africa Test series due to hamstring injury

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Rohit Sharma was appointed India’s Test vice-captain ahead of the tour of South Africa

India suffered a massive blow on Monday when their new vice-captain in Test cricket, Rohit Sharma, was ruled out of the upcoming three-match series in South Africa owing to a hamstring injury. The Gujarat opening batsman Priyank Panchal has been named a replacement for Rohit Sharma.

It has been reported that Rohit suffered a hamstring injury during a net session before the Indian squad entered quarantine in Mumbai, from where they are supposed to travel to South Africa sometime this week. India are set to play three Test matches and as many one-day internationals on their tour of South Africa.

The Indian cricket board informed in a media release on Monday saying that

“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.”

The absence of Rohit can hurt India badly since he has been their most successful batsman this year, having scored 906 runs in 11 matches at an average of 47.68. Rohit is also the other Indian batsmen apart from Rishabh Pant to average in excess of 40 in Test cricket this year. Rohit had also missed the two-match Test series against New Zealand at home for which he was rested.

The unavailability of Rohit also means that India will have to look for another vice-captain, having taken up with a job from Ajinkya Rahane despite an impressive record in the leadership role. Rahane himself has been struggling desperately for runs but he still has found a place in the Indian touring party to South Africa for Test matches.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that former India captain Virat Kohli is set to miss the ODI series against South Africa since he has a family vacation planned. 

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