Ashwin injury blow for India

Ravichandran Ashwin is set to be ruled out of the ODI series against South Africa after picking up a side strain bowling during the first match in Kanpur.

Ashwin was unable to complete his fifth over and walked off the field with the BCCI later confirming a left side injury.

Left a bowler short, South Africa cashed in to race to 5-303 in their 50 overs with Proteas star AB de Villiers hitting a six off the final ball of the innings to bring up his century.

India had been hoping Ashwin would be able to continue his stranglehold over de Villiers after claiming his wicket twice in two T20 matches earlier on the tour.

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De Villiers salutes his final ball century // Getty

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been drafted in to India's ODI squad ahead of the second match in Indore.

Ashwin's injury will be assessed after the currently ongoing match by the team's medical staff to determine how long he will be out of action for.

"Ashwin sustained a left side strain injury during the first ODI against South Africa at Green Park, Kanpur on 11th October 2015," a BCCI statement said.

"After making a detailed assessment of the injury, the BCCI medical team will confirm the time frame required for Ashwin to fully recover from the injury.

"Harbhajan Singh has been included in the Indian squad, and will join the team before the second match of the series in Indore."

Ashwin looked to have injured himself just shortly before leaving the field in the 32nd over of South Africa's innings when he dived to his right to stop a drive from AB de Villiers.

He bowled two more deliveries in obvious anguish but then decided to go off. Virat Kohli completed his over.

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Ashwin dives to stop a drive from de Villiers // Getty

Ashwin was later seen outside the boundary rope practicing his bowling action with the Indian medical staff but soon returned to the dressing room to get some treatment.

He did return and bowled one more over, but looked in obvious discomfort and soon left the field for a second and final time.

Harbhajan Singh was a regular in the Indian team across all the formats before he was dropped in 2011. He made a comeback to ODI cricket earlier this year in a three-match series against Zimbabwe in an understrength Indian team where he picked up four wickets at 27.5 in the series.

India also have Amit Mishra and Axar Patel as spin options in the squad, with Mishra also playing in the first ODI.