India skipper KL Rahul was on Wednesday ruled out of the five-match T20 International series against South Africa due to a groin injury, a day before the first match here.

Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, who was named as Rahul's deputy, will lead the side in his absence. All-rounder Hardik Pandya will be the vice-captain in the series.

Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav will also miss the entire T20I series after getting hit on his right hand while batting in the nets on Tuesday.

"Team India captain KL Rahul has been ruled out of the T20I series against South Africa owing to a right groin injury while Kuldeep Yadav will miss out in the T20I series after getting hit on his right hand while batting in the nets last evening," the BCCI said in a statement.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant as captain and Hardik Pandya as vice-captain for the home series against South Africa."

The selection committee has not named replacements for Rahul and Kuldeep. Both the cricketers will now report to the NCA where the medical team will assess them further and decide on the future course of treatment.

It is understood that Ruturaj Gaikwad will open the batting alongside Ishan Kishan in the series-opener on Thursday.

Jhulan Goswami File Picture

Harmanpreet replaces Mithali as ODI captain, no Jhulan for SL series

Harmanpreet, who remains T20I skipper, and Smriti Mandhana were in the running to replace Mithali in the 50-over format. Eventually, the selectors have gone for the 33-year-old Harmanpreet over the 25-year-old Mandhana.

India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs against Sri Lanka in Dambulla and Kandy, starting June 23. It will be India's first assignment since the early exit from the ODI World Cup in March.

Notable omissions from the ODI squad were veteran Jhulan Goswami, who too like Mithali, was expected to retire after the World Cup, and Sneh Rana.

Opener S Meghana, who had impressed in the ODIs in New Zealand before World Cup, has been included in both the ODI and T20I squads.

Jemimah Rodrigues, who was not included in the ODI World Cup squad, made a comeback for the T20Is. Radha Yadav, who last played for India in July last year, also made a return.

The three T20Is will be played in Dambulla on June 23, 25 and 27 while the ODIs will be held in Kandy on July 1, 4 and 7.

The timing of the squad announcement was rather interesting as it came soon after Indian legend Mithali called time on her 23-year-old career.

India's ODI squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), S Meghana, Deepti Sharma, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Simran Bahadur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol.

India's T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), S Meghana, Deepti Sharma, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Simran Bahadur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav.