India's Tour Of South Africa 2023-24: Ruturaj Gaikwad Ruled Out Of Test Series, Abhimanyu Easwaran To Replace Him

Less than a week after wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was released from India's squad for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa, top-order batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has now also been ruled out of the remainder of the Proteas tour. Right-handed opener Abhimanyu Easwaran has been named as Ruturaj's replacement. (Full Coverage | Cricket News)

While fielding during the second ODI against South Africa in Gqeberha, Ruturaj suffered an injury to his right ring finger. He underwent scans, and after an expert consultation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) medical team ruled him out of the Test series.

A statement from the BCCI added that the 26-year-old from Pune will be reporting to the National Cricket Academy for "further management of his injury".

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Updated India squad for Test series: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk)

Harshit Rana To Miss India A's Four-Day Game
Meanwhile, in another injury update, fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the four-day match against South Africa A at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, which will start on the same date as the first Test - December 26. 

Harshit will miss the game due to a hamstring injury, and the selection committee has added Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Avesh Khan and Rinku Singh to the India A’s squad while Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the squad.

Updated India A squad for four-day match against South Africa 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