Virat Kohli is expected to rejoin the India squad for the first Test in Centurion, starting December 26, after taking a break following a “family emergency”.
The former captain is not a part of the intra-squad match currently underway in Pretoria as he left the team hotel on Tuesday. He had taken permission from the BCCI and informed the team management about his departure.
Kohli is likely to rejoin the team on Saturday and will take part in the customary pre-match practice sessions.
In another development, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the two-Test series because of a finger injury. He will be soon released and is likely to return home and report at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
It is still not clear if Kohli travelled to Mumbai, ahead of the Test series, or London. Sources claimed he had gone to meet wife Anushka Sharma in London, while there were also reports that he had returned to Mumbai.
The team management and BCCI have not been informed where he was travelling.
Kohli has rarely missed a Test match, barring the series in Australia in 2020-21 when he took paternity leave from the Board after playing the opening Test of the four-match series.
There has been speculation that the couple are expecting their second child
next year.
The last time he missed a Test was in Johannesburg in January 2022, India's last tour of South Africa, because of back spasms.
Gaikwad suffered the injury on the ring finger of his right hand during the second ODI. Abhimanyu Easwaran, who is currently part of the India A squad that is touring South Africa, has been asked to be on standby for Gaikwad.
Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will continue to open the innings like they did in the Caribbean in July-August, India’s last Test assignment. Shubman Gill will bat at No.3.
The Test squad has been practising for the past four days in Pretoria under Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff. KL Rahul, India’s stand-in ODI captain, and Mukesh Kumar will join the Test squad on Friday following the conclusion of the ODI series.
The Indian contingent will assemble in Johannesburg and then travel to Centurion for the opening Test at the Wanderers. The second Test is in Cape Town from January 3.
Shreyas Iyer, Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah will be returning to Test cricket after a prolonged absence for injuries. Shreyas, who played the first ODI, had been released from the squad for the preparations ahead of the Tests.
Surya ruled out
An ankle injury has ruled out Suryakumar Yadav for more than six weeks.
Surya had twisted his ankle while fielding during the third T20I in Johannesburg. He has returned home and will report to the NCA to begin his rehabilitation at the earliest.
He is likely to miss the three-match T20I series at home against Afghanistan next month.
