Abhimanyu Easwaran named as Ruturaj Gaikwad’s replacement for IND vs SA Test series

Abhimanyu Easwaran has been named as Ruturaj Gaikwad’s replacement for the India versus South Africa Test series after the latter had to pull out due to injury.

Gaikwad suffered an injury to his right ring finger while fielding in the second ODI against South Africa in Gqeberha.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement that Gaikwad had undergone scans, and following consultation with an expert, the BCCI Medical Team has made the decision to rule him out of the remainder of the tour.

“Gaikwad will be reporting to the NCA for further management of his injury. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Abhimanyu Easwaran as his replacement,” the statement said.

What is interesting is that Easwaran has also been named as the captain of India A’s squad for the four-day match against South Africa A, which starts at Willowmoore Park in Benoni from Tuesday. The first Test between India and South Africa will also start on the same day at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

The BCCI also announced that fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the four-day match against South Africa A at Willowmoore Park in Benoni due to a hamstring injury. The BCCI statement said that the BCCI Selection Committee has added Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Avesh Khan and Rinku Singh to India A’s squad while Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the squad.

The Indian team has seen multiple injuries and withdrawals in South Africa. Suryakumar Yadav sustained a Grade-II tear in his ankle after twisting it while fielding during the third T20I in Johannesburg. He is consequently ruled out of action for seven weeks.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan opted out of the Test series against South Africa citing ‘mental fatigue’. The Indian Express had reported that Kishan requested the Indian team management last week in South Africa to let him take a break as he had been travelling non-stop for the past one year.

India A’s updated squad for four-day match against SA A: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Navdeep Saini, Akash Deep, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Manav Suthar, Rinku Singh

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