Deepak Chahar will not play in the ODI series against South Africa; a 23-year-old sensation has been selected in his stead.

The BCCI announced on Saturday that India bowler Deepak Chahar would not play in the ODI series against South Africa. After the third and final T20I match between India and South Africa in Indore, Chahar had back stiffness and did not play in India’s starting XI for the first ODI in Lucknow. He has been replaced in the lineup for the remaining games of the series by Washington Sundar.

In a formal statement, the BCCI said that Chahar would “now return to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and would be monitored by the Medical Team there.”

Chahar’s potential injury comes as another blow to Team India as it prepares for the T20 World Cup, as the pacer is among the four players on the standby list for the tournament. The right-arm fast bowler is competing to take Jasprit Bumrah’s position in the Indian World Cup team after the latter was ruled out due to a back ailment last week. Chahar reportedly had a “twisted ankle” on Friday, according to the news agency PTI.

“Although Deepak has a twisted ankle, it is not a catastrophic injury. However, it could be wise to take a few days off, “On the condition of anonymity, a person with knowledge of the selection process told PTI.

The Indian squad arrived in Australia earlier this week to get ready for the T20 World Cup, and on Friday, it participated in its first practice. In the next few days, a Bumrah successor is anticipated to be revealed.

On October 9, a team captained by Shikhar Dhawan will resume play in the one-day international series against South Africa as it confronts a crucial match in Ranchi. The team had lost the series opener in Lucknow by a slim margin of 9 runs.