DURBAN, Nov 27: India captain Rahul Dravid will miss the last two matches of the one-day series against South Africa with a finger injury. Virender Sehwag will take over the captaincy for the matches in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday and in Centurion on Sunday, Indian media manager Rajan Nair told reporters on Monday.
Test batsman Vangupurappu Laxman has been asked to join the team.
“Laxman is going to reinforce the team in Rahul's absence,”
Indian board secretary Niranjan Shah said in Mumbai.
“I don't see him reaching in time for the fourth ODI, but we expect him... for the fifth,” he added.Dravid sustained the injury while fielding in the slips in the third One-day International in Cape Town on Sunday.
Nair said team management was awaiting confirmation of whether Dravid's finger was fractured or whether he had damaged ligaments.
But Dravid is expected to be fit for the Test series.
“(Physio John) Gloster is confident that Dravid will regain fullfitness,” Shah said.
The first of India's three Tests in South Africa will be played in Johannesburg from Dec 15 to 19. South Africa hold an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the one-day series.
Laxman, 32, was overlooked from the original one-day squad despite the side's poor batting displays this season.—Reuters