Aiden Markram named South Africa’s stand-in captain for India series

Aiden Markram has been named as South Africa’s stand-in captain for the remaining five ODIs and three T20s against India. Regular skipper Faf du Plessis injured his finger during the first ODI in Durban.

Aiden Markram — who has played six Tests and two ODIs so far — has been named South Africa’s stand-in captain for the remaining ODIs against India, as well as the T20 series. (INDIA vs SOUTH AFRICA FULL COVERAGE)

Aiden Markram, the 23-year old batsman, will captain South Africa for the remaining five ODIs and the three T20s against India, in the absence of the injured Faf du Plessis. (Twitter)

Markram was elevated to the post of captaincy following Faf du Plessis’ exit from the limited-overs leg of India’s tour of South Africa.

(Read | Faf du Plessis out of India-South Africa ODI, T20 series with finger injury)

Du Plessis had suffered an injury to his finger in the first ODI at Durban and was on Friday ruled out of the remaining five ODIs as well as the subsequent three-match T20I series later this month.

Du Plessis is set to undergo rest as well as rehabilitation and will aim to make return with South Africa’s first of the four Tests against Australia, starting March 1 at Durban.

(Read | India vs South Africa: Five things Virat Kohli’s team did right in Durban win over Proteas)

Before bowing out from the ODI series, du Plessis had struck a fine century for his team in the first match, which was eventually overshadowed by Virat Kohli’s 33rd ODI hundred and Ajinkya Rahane’s 79.

The second match of the series will be played at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday with India 1-0 up having won the opening match by a comfortable margin of six wickets.

Earlier, South African selectors drafted in senior player Farhaan Behardien as Du Plessis’ replacement. Wicketkeeper-batsmen Heinrich Klaasen has also earned his maiden call-up to the national side as a reserve.