Virat Kohli Returns Home; Another Batter Ruled Out in South Africa: Sources

Virat Kohli returned home from South Africa on Friday morning,

However, it is reported that the batter will be heading back to South Africa before the commencement of the first Test scheduled on December 26.

Virat Kohli

Indian cricket team superstar Virat Kohli has reportedly returned home due to a family emergency, just days before the start of the first Test against South Africa.

However, sources from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have confirmed that the iconic batter will be back in time for the first Test, scheduled to begin on December 26 in Centurion against the Proteas. Previously, the BCCI had released wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan from the squad for the Test series due to a personal matter, with KS Bharat named as his replacement for the 2-match series.

India’s opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the two-Test series against South Africa due to a fracture in his ring finger. A source quoted by PTI confirmed the news, indicating that Gaikwad will not be available for the Test matches.

Ruturaj Gaikwad sustained the finger injury while attempting to take a catch during the second ODI against South Africa earlier in the week. As of now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not announced a replacement for the young batter.

The Test series is anticipated to mark the return of Virat Kohli, along with skipper Rohit Sharma, pacer Jasprit Bumrah, and other members of India’s ODI World Cup squad. Following India’s World Cup final defeat against Australia, Kohli, Rohit, and several other senior members of the Indian team have been on a break from cricket. Their return is awaited as they prepare to feature in the Test series against South Africa.

Virat Kohli had opted out of India’s T20I series against South Africa and also did not participate in the white-ball assignments against the Proteas. Nevertheless, he made himself available for the Test series right from the beginning.

The specific details of the ‘family emergency’ that led to Virat Kohli’s return home just four days before the commencement of the Test series are not yet known.

However, it has been indicated that the emergency does not appear to be a complicated one. Kohli has reportedly assured the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his prompt return to the team before the Test series begins.

India’s Test squad for the series against South Africa:

1. Rohit Sharma (Captain)
2. Shubman Gill
3. Yashasvi Jaiswal
4. Virat Kohli
5. Shreyas Iyer
6. KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
7. Ravichandran Ashwin
8. Ravindra Jadeja
9. Shardul Thakur
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Mukesh Kumar
12. Jasprit Bumrah (Vice-Captain)
13. Prasidh Krishna
14. KS Bharat (Wicketkeeper)