Proteas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the third Test against India in Ranchi due to a shoulder injury, Cricket South Africa confirmed on Sunday.
Maharaj injured his right shoulder while fielding on Day 2 of the second Test in Pune but managed to bat in both the innings, scoring a gritty half-century in first innings.
“An MRI showed that Keshav has sustained an injury to a muscle in his right shoulder, which was strapped in order for him to bat yesterday. He was reassessed this morning particularly with regards to bowling and showed significant discomfort during bowling,” South Africa team doctor Ramjee Hashendra said in a statement.
“Based on this morning’s assessment and the findings of the MRI, the medical team feels that he will not be fit in time for the next Test match in six days’ time. The nature and extent of the injury would mean that he will probably return to play in 14 to 21 days based on his progress during the rehabilitation phase,” he added.
Maharaj will be replaced by another left-arm spinner George Linde in the Ranchi Test.
Linde was part of the South Africa A side that toured India for a List A series prior to the senior side’s arrival, and was in the T20I squad, although he did not play a game.
South Africa lost the first Test by 203 runs, second Test by an innings and 137 runs and will now be looking to end their tour on a high with a positive result in Ranchi.
