Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of India's Test series in South Africa after suffering a hamstring injury.

India's new Test vice-captain sustained the injury in a training session in Mumbai on Sunday.

The uncapped Priyank Panchal has replaced Rohit for three matches against the Proteas, the first of which starts at SuperSport Park on December 26.

Panchal made 96, 24 and nought in his three innings for India A against South Africa's second string in Bloemfontein last month.

Rohit was rested for the recent Test series win over New Zealand along with KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

Rahul, Pant, Bumrah and Shami are set to face South Africa, but Rohit joins Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shubman Gill and Rahul Chahar on the injury list.

Rohit, who was named India's permanent T20 International and ODI skipper last week, missed two of the four Tests in a famous series win in Australia this year.