Rohit Sharma was on Monday ruled out of the upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed through a tweet. He has been replaced in India's 18-man squad by opening batter Priyank Panchal, who was part of the India A tour to the country earlier this month. BCCI confirmed that Rohit has been ruled out due to a left hamstring injury.
"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," the BCCI tweet stated.
Rohit was named as India's white-ball captain and elevated as the vice-captain in Tests on December 8. India are slated to play three Tests and as many ODIs in South Africa. The tour begins with the first Test on December 26. Rohit was rested for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, which India won 1-0. The right-handed batter returned for the South Africa tour when the selectors named the squad last week. Rohit replaced Ajinkya Rahane as the vice-captain of India in red-ball cricket. The latter, however, managed to hold on to his place in the side.
"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," a BCCI release stated along with the new squad for the South Africa Tests.
India's Test squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul, 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.