India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the first Test against South Africa scheduled to begin on January 5 in Cape Town.
So now, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul will open the innings in the first game of the 3 match series.
Virat Kohli led Team India embarked on their tour to South Africa earlier this week after the skipper hosted his second reception in Mumbai on December 27. On the same day, Dhawan injured his ankle, the reason due to which he has been ruled out.
Indian team management was set to open with Vijay and Dhawan given the latter’s ability to take the game away from the opposition quickly. But now the left-handed opener has time until January 10 to recover from the injury to be in contention for the second game in Johannesburg.
Also as per the reports in TOI, Virat Kohli has also expressed his disappointment over Shikhar Dhawan ‘not being careful’ ahead of an all-important tour.
The second and third Test will start on January 13 and 24, with a six-match ODI series and three-match T20I series to follow.
