NEWS
Follow UsIndia captain Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the Johannesburg Test against South Africa due to an upper back spasm. As a result, KL Rahul will lead India for the very first time.
"He won't feature in the second Test against South Africa at The Wanderers. The BCCI medical team will be monitoring him during the course of this Test match," a BCCI release said.
Hanuma Vihari has replaced Kohli in the XI, while fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been named vice-captain and Shreyas Iyer misses out due to a stomach bug.
"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain for the 2nd Test," a release from BCCI stated, further adding that, "Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer was also ruled out of selection for the 2nd Test owing to a stomach bug."
With Ajinkya Rahane axed as India's vice-captain ahead of the tour and Rohit Sharma missing out due to a hamstring injury, Rahul was named Kohli's deputy for this tour. Rahul was also named the vice-captain of the limited-overs after Rohit's elevation as captain.
In fact, Rahul will lead India in the upcoming ODI series against South Africa as well as Rohit is yet to recover from his injury, while Bumrah has been named as his deputy for the three matches.
Everyone was left surprised as Rahul walked in with Dean Elgar for the toss at the Wanderers. This would have been Kohli's 99th Test and would have played his milestone 100th match in Cape Town.
However, as things stand, if Kohli does return for the third Test, he will play Test No. 100 for India in the home series against Sri Lanka in February. India have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, thanks to their 113-run win in the first Test at Centurion, where Rahul scored a century the first innings to set the match up in his team's favour.
South Africa, on the other hand, are without Quinton de Kock, who recently announced his retirement from Tests. Kyle Verreynne has replaced him in the XI at the Wanderers. Wiaan Mulder too has been left out, making way for Duanne Olivier, making his first appearance for the Proteas since February 2019.