South Africa were dealt a blow ahead of the six-match ODI series against India as star batsman AB de Villiers was ruled out of the first three ODIs against India due to a finger injury.

After winning the Test series against the Men in Blue, the African nation will face the same opponent in a 6-match ODI series. The 1st ODI is scheduled to take place on 1st February in Durban.

South Africa have not named a replacement for the former skipper hoping for his recovery before the fourth One-day game. The right-handed batsman will be sidelined for two weeks in order to become fully fit for the last three games.

De Villiers was recently named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year 2017. He bruised his index finger while attempting to take a catch in the 3rd Test against India which South Africa had eventually lost by 63 runs.

The 33-year-old has picked up six centuries against the sub-continental team in 29 ODIs. He scored a total of 1295 runs at an average of 51 in those clashes. De Villiers was also South Africa's leading run-getter in the recently concluded 3-match Test series by clubbing 211 runs in six innings.

"De Villiers sustained the injury to his right index finger during the third Test against India and will require up to two weeks to make a full recovery," CSA said in a media release.