Sehwag misses one-day series

Virender Sehwag will not be able to add to his 228 ODI caps against South Africa after picking up a shoulder problem

India opener Virender Sehwag has been ruled out of the one-day series against South Africa due to a shoulder injury.

Sehwag will be replaced by middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma in the squad for the five-match series, starting in Durban on January 12.

N Srinivasan, honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said: “Virender Sehwag has been advised to withdraw from the ODI series against South Africa to tend to his shoulder.

“Rohit Sharma will replace him in the squad. Murali Vijay will stay back in South Africa for the ODI series, as the 17th playing member of the squad.”

Sehwag has been plagued by shoulder problems over the last few years and had to sit out the two previous World Twenty20s due to the injury.

The 32-year-old, however, has not been ruled out of next week’s final Test of the ongoing three-Test series in South Africa - currently standing level at 1-1.

Sehwag’s withdrawal seems to be more of a precautionary measure as the veteran of 228 ODIs has been drafted into India’s preliminary squad announced for the World Cup in the sub-continent, which starts in February.