IND vs SA: BCCI names Abhimanyu Easwaran as a replacement for injured Ruturaj Gaikwad

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has included Abhimanyu Easwaran in the team as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad. Due to injury, Gaikwad was ruled out of the two-match IND vs SA Test series starting from December 26.

Ruturaj Gaikwad got injured in the finger of his right hand while fielding in the second IND vs SA ODI match played in Gqeberha. After this he had to go through the scanning process. Now on the advice of specialist doctors, Gaikwad has been dropped from the Test team. He will return to India very soon and will report to NCA for treatment and rehab of his injury. In such a situation, Gaikwad will have to wait longer for his Test debut.

Abhimanyu's record in domestic matches

Abhimanyu Easwaran has a good record in domestic matches. At present Abhimanyu is a part of India A team and is in South Africa with the main team. He plays domestic cricket for Bengal team. The 28-year-old has the experience of playing in 88 first class matches and has been a part of Team India earlier also. But during this period he did not get a chance to make his international debut. Easwaran has captained India-A for a long time.

Team India's Test record in South Africa

If we talk about the schedule of IND vs SA two-match Test series starting from 26th December, then the first match of the series will be played in Centurion from 26th December to 30th December. Whereas, the second test will be played in Cape Town from January 3 to January 7.

Team India's record in South Africa in the Test series has been very bad. Till now India has not been able to win a single Test series in South Africa. In such a situation, this will be a big responsibility on captain Rohit Sharma.

India A's update for four-day match against SA A

In another development, fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the four-day match against South Africa A starting on 26th December at Willowmoore Park in Benoni owing to a hamstring injury. 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.