India batsman Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the three-Test series against South Africa due to a hamstring injury and will be replaced by Priyank Panchal, the country's cricket board (BCCI) said on Monday.

Rohit, who replaced Virat Kohli as India's white-ball skipper last week, picked up the injury to his left hamstring during a training session in Mumbai on Sunday.

Panchal, 31, was part of the India 'A' side that played in a three-match unofficial Test series in South Africa earlier this month.

The first Test is scheduled to start in Pretoria from Dec. 26.

Meanwhile, the home team's wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock could also miss the second and third test matches, with his wife expecting the birth of their child in early January, ESPN Cricinfo website reported on Monday.