Injury sidelines Ruturaj Gaikwad, Easwaran steps in for India vs South Africa Tests

Promising Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Test debut will have to wait a little longer. The 26-year-old was ruled out of the upcoming two-match series in South Africa due to a finger injury sustained while fielding in the second ODI. Abhimanyu Easwaran, currently leading India A in South Africa, has been named as his replacement.

Gaikwad suffered a blow to his right ring finger, forcing him out of the rest of the tour. Despite impressive performances in limited-overs formats, with six ODIs and 19 T20Is under his belt, the Maharashtra batsman is yet to earn his Test cap.

With Gaikwad unavailable, the opening slot for the series, starting in Centurion on December 26th, is likely to be filled by young Yashasvi Jaiswal. The talented left-hander is expected to partner captain Rohit Sharma at the top of the order.

READ MORE: Three Standout Performers for India in South Africa Series

Easwaran, the India A skipper, gets a call-up as cover for Gaikwad. The 26-year-old right-hander has been in good form in domestic cricket and will be hoping to impress if given a chance in the Tests.

Gaikwad’s absence is a blow to India’s Test plans, but the presence of talented youngsters like Jaiswal and Easwaran offers exciting possibilities for the future. As India gears up for the challenge in South Africa, all eyes will be on Jaiswal to step up and make the most of his opportunity.

India Squad for 2 Match Tests in South Africa

Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran

Wicket-keepers: KS Bharat, Ishan Kishan

Bowlers: Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah

First test at SuperSport Park, Centurion

26–30 Dec

1:30 pm

Second test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Capetown 

Jan 3–7, 2024

1:30 pm