V.R.V Singh to Replace in the place of Zaheer Khan

Fast bowler Vikram Rajvir Singh will join the squad as a replacement. "Zaheer will not be able to take part in the rest of the series. He will return immediately...," a board statement said.

India fast bowler Zaheer Khan is to return home from the tour of Australia after suffering a heel injury, the Indian cricket board said on Wednesday.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer missed the second Test in Sydney that started on Wednesday due to a heel injury in his left foot.












Batting may have been a perennial source of concern on this tour for India, but on the bowling front it has been a problem of plenty.

With Punjab's young VRV Singh impressing as back-up bowler in the warm up game against the rest of South Africa, coach Greg Chappell was wearing a happy look at the options at his disposal.
Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth are all but penciled in for the first Test at it will be a toss up between VRV and Pathan for the third seamer's slot.








"VRV Singh has been bowling close to 145mph and with good control too," muttered Chappell after he sat through with team's video analyst Ramakrishnan in the press box on the third afternoon of the four-day game here on Saturday.

VRV Singh has lost little time in adjusting to the high altitude and the kind of line and length to bowl on the wickets in South Africa. He has come in for high praise from some of the team's seniors, including maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

Vikram Rajvir, 23, has played five Tests and was last month called into the squad for the final Test against Pakistan after injuries ruled out Zaheer and Munaf Patel.

Zaheer's injury further weakens India's pace department already hit by fitness woes. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was ruled out of the tour with injury and the board had said Munaf needs match practice before playing international cricket again.