Cape Town. India’s Test captain Virat Kohli on Sunday practiced batting, which has increased his chances of playing in the third Test starting on Tuesday. Kohli had a stiffness in the upper back and in his absence, KL Rahul took charge of the team. During the practice on Sunday, Kohli was seen practicing more on cover drives and off drives and his practice has given him hope of playing. Head coach Rahul Dravid had also expressed hope that he would be fit for the decider.
If Kohli is declared match fit, Hanuma Vihari will be out of the playing XI as Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara reclaimed their place in the playing XI for the third Test with half-centuries in the second innings at Johannesburg Was. The Indian team, forgetting the loss in Johannesburg, practiced for the third and deciding Test match with the aim of winning the series for the first time in South Africa.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tweeted with the picture of the team, ‘We are here in beautiful Cape Town. The team started preparing for the third Test. The three-match series is currently tied at 1-1. The third Test will be played here from January 11 to 15. India, looking to win the first Test series in South Africa, started off brilliantly with a 113-run win in the opening match at Centurion but suffered a seven-wicket loss in the second Test at Johannesburg. The Indian team had reached Cape Town on Saturday. It is doubtful for fast bowler Muhammad Siraj to play in the third match. He was injured during the second test match. He can be replaced by Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav in the playing XI.
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