The BCCI announced on Tuesday (November 23) that opener KL Rahul is ruled out of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand due to injury. Surya Kumar Yadav has been added to India's Test squad two days before the start of the first Test in Kanpur as a result.
Rahul recovered his spot in the Test side recently in England where he formed a superb partnership at the top of the order alongside Rohit Sharma.
Rahul continued to be in all squads even though his workload was managed during the ongoing home series against New Zealand ahead of the South Africa tour. In the final of the 3rd T20I against New Zealand, he was not in the playing XI.
After suffering a muscle strain on his left thigh, the 29-year-old will undergo rehabilitation at NCA to prepare for the long tour of South Africa that begins next month.
The replacement for him in the New Zealand Tests, Suryakumar, has not played in the red-ball format for India despite making his debut in the other two formats earlier this year. Earlier this year, he was part of the Test squad in England.
Ajinkya Rahane will lead the side in the opening Test without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Kohli will lead the team in the second Test, which begins on December 3 in Mumbai.