Vernon Philander’s participation in the second Test against India is in doubt after injuring his ankle during a warm-up football game at training on Thursday.

Philander picked up the knock after stepping on Dean Elgar’s foot, and will have a scan to determine the full extent of the injury.

‘It was a very freakish accident,’ AB de Villiers said. ‘He [Philander] is very unlucky. It might be nothing, it might be bad.’

Philander was seen hobbling in visible distress, and had to hold on to the shoulders of two members of the support staff. The support staff then had to carry him back all the way to the dressing room.

Dale Steyn is also an injury doubt for the second game after picking up a groin injury in the first Test. If both Steyn and Philander can’t play, it might force the selectors to stick with the two specialist spinners, Imran Tahir and Simon Harmer, since Morne Morkel has recovered from a leg injury sustained during the ODI series.

Kagiso Rabada is the only other seamer left in the squad, but even if someone is flown over they are unlikely get to India in time to play in the second Test, which starts on Saturday.

Picture: Karthik Krishnaswamy/ESPNcricinfo