Ind vs SA: Massive blow to Proteas, captain Faf du Plessis ruled out of ODI and T20 series

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the remainder of the one-day and Twenty20 series against India due to a fractured finger. The injury could also sideline the 33-year-old from the first two tests against Australia next month.

It is another injury blow for the Proteas, who have already lost AB de Villiers due to a finger injury for the first three matches of the 50-over series against India. Du Plessis fractured his right index finger in the six wicket loss to India in the opening ODI in Durban on Thursday, a match in which he scored a 120 runs to anchor the home innings.

He will be out of action for between three and six weeks, Cricket South Africa said in a statement on Friday, leaving him in a race against time to be fit for the first of four tests against Australia that start on March 1. Farhaan Behardien has been called into the limited overs squad as a replacement, while the Proteas have also added uncapped Heinrich Klaasen as a reserve wicketkeeper-batsman. There are five more ODIs in the series against India followed by three Twenty20 internationals. South africa is already down 0-1 in the six match ODI series.  The second match of the series is on Sunday. With Faf out of action, Proteas have to come up with a gameplan to counter India's wrist spinners.