SA vs IND: KL Rahul named vice-captain for Test series in Rohit Sharma's absence

KL Rahul is set to vice-captain India in the upcoming three-Test series against South Africa as the newly-appointed Rohit Sharma has been ruled out owing to an injury. BCCI had named Rohit as Virat Kohli’s deputy, replacing the long-standing Ajinkya Rahane from the position after a torrid 2021.

However, an injury to Rohit in the lead-up meant the board had their task cut out to name a replacement. A BCCI source in the know of the developments confirmed on December 18 that Rahul will be donning the role.

“Yes, with Rohit missing, KL Rahul would be the vice-captain,” the source said. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday confirmed that Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the three-match Test series against South Africa due to a hamstring issue.

“Team India Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma sustained a left hamstring injury during his training session here in Mumbai yesterday,” the BCCI stated in an official release. “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,” it added.

Gujarat batter Panchal, who has over 7000 runs at 45.52 with 24 centuries and 25 half-centuries to his name in 100 First-Class encounters, was a part of the A squad that played three unofficial Tests in Bloemfontein. He missed his century by four runs in the 1st Test, while he returned with scores of 24 and 0 in the second Test before sitting out of the third.

India will further be without the services of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, opener Shubman Gill and spinner Axar Patel, all missing out due to injuries. As for the other members of the squad, all had touched down in Johannesburg on December 16.

The first Test will be played from December 26-30 in Centurion, followed by the second in Johannesburg from January 3-7 and the third and final one in Cape Town from January 11-15. The subsequent ODI series, which will not be a part of the ICC ODI World Cup Super League and will be played as a standalone bilateral event, will commence on January 19 in Paarl, which will also host the second ODI on January 21 before the final one in Cape Town on January 23.