KL Rahul named vice-captain for South Africa-India Test series

The wicketkeeper-batter replaces Rohit Sharma, who has been ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury

KL Rahul has been named vice-captain ahead of India’s Test series against South Africa.

The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter replaces Rohit Sharma as Virat Kohli’s deputy after the opening batter was ruled out of the series with an injury to his left hamstring.

India are scheduled to play three Tests against the Proteas in December and January, with the first match due to begin on Boxing Day in Centurion. They will then travel to Johannesburg for the second Test from January 3 before finishing the series in Cape Town (January 11-15).

Rahul has made 40 Test appearances for India since making his debut against Australia in 2014, scoring 2,321 runs at 35.16.

He endured a two-year absence from the red-ball side between August 2019 and August 2021 before returning to the XI for India’s series against England. In four matches, he scored 315 runs (one century) in eight innings.

In Sharma’s absence he will likely open the batting alongside Mayank Agarwal, who scored 242 runs – including a knock of 150 – against New Zealand in November and December.

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