Rohit Sharma ruled out of ODI series in SA, K L Rahul named captain of 18-member squad
New Delhi, Dec 31: Captain Rohit Sharma was on Friday ruled out of India's upcoming ODI series in South Africa due to a hamstring injury, forcing the selectors to appoint KL Rahul as skipper of an 18-member team for the white-ball leg of the tour.
All-rounder Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja were also not selected as they were not fit while senior pacer Mohammed Shami, who is in the team for the ongoing Test series, was rested.
Pacer Jasprit Bumrah was named as vice-captain of the team.
"Rohit is not fit, he is in rehab. We never wanted to take chance with him,' BCCI chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma said.
"We are looking to groom KL Rahul. He has proved his leadership qualities. KL is the best one who can handle the side."
The three ODIs will be played at Paarl and Cape Town on January 19, 21 and 23 respectively.
The Squad: KL Rahul (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Y Chahal, R Ashwin, W Sundar, J Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar,Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CSK pacer Matheesha Pathirana returns to SL with hamstring injury
Chennai: Chennai Super Kings' Matheesha Pathirana's outing in the ongoing IPL is all but over as the pacer will return to Sri Lanka to recover from a hamstring injury.
The right-arm slinger played six matches in this IPL, picking up 13 wickets at an economy of 7.68.
''Chennai Super Kings wishes Pathirana a quick recovery,'' the CSK stated in a media release on Sunday.
Pathirana last played for CSK during their 78-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he bowled two overs and picked up the wickets of Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen.
Pathirana missed the match against Punjab Kings at Chennai on May 1 with England pacer Richard Gleeson replacing him. The unavailability of Pathirana is a big setback to CSK as their bowling stocks have dwindled drastically in the last few days.
Pace bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar too is set to miss the remainder of the IPL with a niggle he sustained during the match against Punjab at Chepauk. Chahar walked off the field after bowling just two balls and Shardul Thakuar had completed the over for him.
''Deepak Chahar doesn't look good. The initial feeling wasn't great. So, I'm hoping for a more positive report when the physio and the doctor have a look,'' CSK coach Stephen Fleming had said after that match.
CSK will also be without Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana at least for a couple of more matches as he is expected to fly back to Sri Lanka to complete his USA visa process ahead of next month's T20 World Cup in the Americas.
Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman's IPL stint too came to an end in the previous match against PBKS after he has joined the national team for the home T20I series against Zimbabwe.
