Virat Kohli to Return After Family Emergency: In a setback for Team India ahead of the much-anticipated Test series against South Africa, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out due to a lingering finger injury. The 26-year-old sustained the injury during the second ODI against South Africa on December 19 and has failed to recover in time for the two-Test series.
Sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed that Gaikwad, who was released by the Indian team management in South Africa, will return to India immediately. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring his recovery, but it has been confirmed that he won’t be available for either of the two Tests, scheduled to begin on December 26 at Centurion.
“On another note, Indian skipper Virat Kohli had to miss the ongoing three-day intra-squad game in Pretoria due to a family emergency. While the exact nature of the emergency remains unclear, BCCI sources assure that Kohli is expected to return to Johannesburg in time for the first Test. Kohli, who recently traveled to South Africa for the Test series, left for Mumbai three days ago after obtaining permission from the team management and the BCCI”.
The three-day practice game in Pretoria has witnessed notable performances from various Indian players. Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran seized the opportunity, to showcase their skills. Captain Rohit Sharma, along with pace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur, delivered impressive performances.
“With the ODI series concluding on Thursday and the practice game set to conclude on Friday, all members of the Indian contingent will now assemble in Johannesburg before traveling to Centurion for the first Test on December 26. Following the Boxing Day Test, slated to conclude on December 30, the players will head to Cape Town for the second and final Test, beginning on January 3”.
The absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad will be a blow to India’s batting lineup, and all eyes will be on the team’s resilience as they face the Proteas in what promises to be a challenging Test series in South Africa.
