India vs South Africa: Virat Kohli to Play 3rd Test? Here's the update

Virat Kohli to play SA vs IND 3rd Test: Team India will be chasing history as they are all set to battle out South Africa in the third and final Test match at the Newlands in Cape Town scheduled to begin from 11 January. India’s regular captain Virat Kohli has been deemed fit and will make a comeback into the playing 11 for the important series-decider. The exciting SA vs IND three-match Test series is currently locked in at 1-1 with both the teams performing amazingly well so far.

India vs South Africa: Virat Kohli to Play 3rd Test?

India Test captain Virat Kohli missed the second Test match against South Africa due to upper back spasm. However, Kohli has officially confirmed that he is completely fit and will play the the third Test. Earlier, India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul and head coach Rahul Dravid also confirmed that the 33-year-old skipper was doing well in the nets and would be good to recover in time. However, it will be a hard call to leave out someone like Hanuma Vihari who contributed with a commendable unbeaten knock of 40 runs off 84 balls in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test. This will also be Virat’s 99th Test match of what has been a staggering career so far.

“I am absolutely fit but Siraj is not 100 percent fit and we don’t want to risk a fast bowler not being 100 percent fit. When you miss a Test you almost heel guilty and think ‘how could I get injured’. It can happen when you play for so long. At times it can get taken for granted that this player will play every game. But such sudden injures remind you to treat yourself as a human,” said India Test captain Virat Kohli in the pre-match press conference.

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SA vs IND 3rd Test

India suffered a massive blow in the second Test match against the Proteas when speedster Mohammed Siraj pulled off a hamstring injury at the end of Day 1. The pacer did resume bowling in the remainder of the Test match but was certainly not 100% of his normal fitness. Kohli also stated that he is not yet match fit at this moment. The recent media reports suggest that senior pacer Ishant Sharma is very much likely to replace Siraj in the playing XI for the third and final Test match.

Related: India ODI Squad for South Africa Series

Also, despite the recent criticism over his poor shot selection in the second innings of the previous Test match, wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant is certain to retain his place in the side. It will be an important game for the senior duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara as well.

“The way Pujara and Rahane batted in the last Test, that experience is priceless for us. I feel transitions do happen but they happen naturally, you can’t force them,” added Kohli.

Related: India vs South Africa 2021 Schedule

IND Playing 11 (likely)
KL Rahul
Mayank Agarwal
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane
Rishabh Pant
Ravichandran Ashwin
Shardul Thakur
Mohammed Shami
Jasprit Bumrah
Ishant Sharma