Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan is to return home from the tour of Australia after suffering a heel injury, the Indian cricket board announced.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer was ruled out of the second Test at the SCG due to a heel injury in his left foot with 19-year-old Ishant Sharma earning a call-up for just his third Test.

Zaheer will be replaced in the touring party by fast bowler Vikram Rajvir Singh.

Vikram Rajvir, 23 has played five Tests and was last month called into the squad for the final test against Pakistan after injuries ruled out Zaheer and Munaf Patel.

"Zaheer will not be able to take part in the rest of the series... He will return immediately...," a board statement said.

Zaheer's injury blow further weakens an Indian pace department already without Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, and Munaf due to fitness concerns.

The visitors trail the four-Test series 1-0 after losing the opening game in Melbourne by 337 runs.

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