Rohit Sharma included as cover for Laxman

With VVS Laxman yet to fully recover from his hand injury, the selectors have called up Rohit Sharma as cover for India’s first Test against South Africa which begins in Nagpur on Saturday.

Laxman suffered an injury while fielding in the slips during the series against Bangladesh last month. The right-hander skipped India’s net session on Wednesday, even though he has resumed practice.

Rohit Sharma was ignored from the original squad picked for the first Test, but led the Board President’s XI against the visiting South Aficans in the two-day practice match which concluded on Wednesday.

Dropped from the Indian squad owing to poor form, Rohit came back with roaring success for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, which included a triple century.

The selectors decided to give him a go and asked him to stay put in Nagpur.

“It feels good that I’ve been asked to stay back. Bahut hi achcha lag raha hai (I’m feeling great),” he told the Telegraph.

India have been depleted by injuries to Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and S Sreesanth ahead of the series.

S Badrinath, Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Mithun have also been included in the Indian squad.

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