Reports: Rohit Sharma to miss South Africa Tests owing to an injury

India are all set to tour South Africa from December 26 and ahead of the much-awaited action, the visiting nation has been dealt with a huge blow. India’s ace batter and Test deputy Rohit Sharma has picked up an injury and is likely to get ruled out of the Test series. Though the extent of the injury is still unknown, it is likely that he will miss the action and in the same line, Gujarat batter Priyank Panchal has been alerted by the BCCI.

Panchal has been added to the team as Rohit’s cover, who is expected to miss the Test leg of the South Africa series. The piece of news stands to be a huge blow at the moment when Sharma was India’s highest run-getter in Tests in 2021. He is also one of the only two Indian batters who average over 40 in a minimum of 10 innings, Rishabh Pant being the other name.

After assuming the opening charge in India’s Test setup, Sharma was flaunting his class all well before the visiting nation dealt with this blow. Talking about Rohit, it was only a few days back that he was appointed as India’s ODI captain after being given the T20I charge earlier.

Rohit Sharma was recently appointed as India’s Test deputy

He is expected to lead India from the SA ODIs and was also appointed as India’s deputy in Test keeping in mind the struggling form of Ajinkya Rahane. The senior batter recently opened up on India’s determination to win each and every game under Kohli’s captaincy.

“Five years that he led the team, he led from the front every time, we stepped on to the park, and there was clear grit and determination to win every game, that was the message to the entire squad,” Rohit said on the sidelines of the India Test squad’s training session ahead of the South Africa tour. We have had a great time playing under him and I have played a lot of cricket under him, I have enjoyed each and every moment, still continue to do that,” said Sharma as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

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