Kohli leaves SA due to family emergency
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the two-Test series because of an injury, Abhimanyu Easwaran🤳 asked to be on stand-by
Fri, Dec 22, 2023 • 2:45 pm
Virat Kohli is expected to rejoin the team ahead of the first Test.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the two-Test series against South Africa, while Virat Kohli had to miss the three-day intra-squad game currently underway in Pretoria. According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the young opener has not recovered from a finger injury. He has been released by the Indian team management in South Africa.
Kohli, who recently traveled to South Africa for the Test series, had to return to India due to a family emergency. The exact details of the emergency are not clear, but BCCI sources say that he will be back in Johannesburg in time for the first Test, which starts at Centurion on December 26.
Kohli left for Mumbai about three days ago after obtaining permission from the team management and the BCCI to skip the three-day practice game in which Indian players are currently involved in Pretoria. Kohli is expected to return on Friday (December 22).
Gaikwad, aged 26, suffered a finger injury during the second ODI against the hosts at Port Elizabeth on December 19. "(He) hasn't fully recovered from the blow he sustained to his ring finger while fielding in the second ODI. He remains under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team," the BCCI stated before the start of the third and final ODI on Thursday. It has now emerged that there is no chance of his recovery before either of the two Tests, and the team management, after consulting the BCCI, has decided to release him immediately. He is expected to reach India by Saturday.
Meanwhile, in the practice game, which will conclude on Friday, most Indian players had good outings so far. Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran made best of the opportunity that came their way while skipper Rohit Sharma, pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur looked impressive.
100 from Gill & 50 retired out so others can bats
As of now, all the Indian players have been scattered, having been involved in various matches. With the ODI series concluding on Thursday and the three-day game finishing on Friday, all groups of the Indian contingent will now assemble in Johannesburg and travel from there to Centurion for the Test. After the Boxing Day Test, which concludes on December 30, the players will move to Cape Town, where the second and final Test will commence on January 3.
© Cricbuzz
Health and Fitness
2