India Cricket Team has an injury blow ahead of India vs South Africa Test series. Ruturaj Gaikwad has missed out on the IND vs SA 3rd ODI with a finger injury, days before the Test series. Gaikwad is the backup opener in Tests.
Rajat Patidar has been handed ODI debut with Ruturaj Gaikwad missing out. KL Rahul is likely to go back to the opening role.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad hasn’t fully recovered from the blow he sustained to his ring finger while fielding in the second ODI. He remains under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team,” BCCI said in a statement ahead of IND vs SA 3rd ODI.
In his maiden tour of South Africa, Ruturaj Gaikwad hasn’t had a great start. He has been dismissed for 5 & 4 in the two ODIs before the injury rules him out.
While it is unlikely that Gaikwad will get a match in the India vs South Africa Test series, he would have been a crucial backup. India have already lost Mohammed Shami to an injury while Ishan Kishan has returned home due to personal reasons.
India Playing XI for 3rd ODI: Sanju Samson, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (w/c), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar
