South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith will miss the Indian Premier League to have surgery on a chronic ankle injury.

Cricket South Africa says Smith requires an operation on his left ankle, which has been troubling him for two months, and will need eight to 10 weeks to recover.

As a result, the left-handed opening batsman won’t be able to play for Pune Warriors in the IPL Twenty20 tournament, which begins this week.

CSA says Smith will have the operation on Tuesday so he can recover in time for the Proteas’ tour to England later this year.

Smith says it will be “a relief” to have his ankle repaired ahead of a “crucial year of cricket ahead.”

No. 2-ranked South Africa plays three tests against current top-ranked team England in July and August.