South Africa's star pacer Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the ongoing first Test against India at Newlands, Cape Town. Lethal pace attacker Dale Steyn left the field during India's innings having bowled just 17.3 overs and went for scans on a bruised left heel. He was later seen limping as he came back to the ground and his participation in the rest of the match and the series is in doubt. Steyn won't bowl but may bat if needed in this Test match. Steyn returned to Test cricket for the match after 13 months on the sidelines with a career-threatening shoulder injury.

The South African team manager said he sustained a "freakish" foot injury while bowling in his comeback game on Saturday. Steyn, who has been plagued by injuries over the last three years and was playing his first Test in more than a year, hurt his left foot when he landed awkwardly in a foothole on one delivery, South Africa manager and team doctor Mohammed Moosajee said.

Initial scans showed tissue damage around the bottom of Steyn's foot and near the heel, Moosajee said, and Steyn wouldn't be able to bowl again in the Test in Cape Town. The type of injury normally takes 4-6 weeks to heal, Moosajee added, almost certainly ruling Steyn out of the rest of the series against India and putting a question mark over whether he can once again regain full fitness ahead of Australia's tour in March.