IND vs SA: Virat Kohli & Mohammed Siraj fitness update – After Virat Kohli’s back injury, Team India have been hit by another injury in Mohammed Siraj. The pacer pulled his hamstring in the first innings during the run-up and couldn’t bowl in full swing. Head coach Rahul Dravid provided an update on Kohli while KL Rahul said Siraj is yet to recover. Follow InsideSport.IN for India vs South Africa Live Updates.
While Rahul Dravid confirmed that skipper Virat Kohli is all set to come back in the 3rd Test in Cape Town, Mohammed Siraj is doubtful as he is yet to recover.
IND vs SA: Rahul Dravid confirms ‘Virat Kohli set to return for 3rd Test’, Mohammed Siraj doubtful in Cape Town
“I think he should be fine from all accounts. He had the opportunity to run around a little bit and test his fitness a little bit. I have been with him at the nets with throwdowns. Hopefully, with a couple of net sessions in Cape Town, he should be good to go. I haven’t had a detailed chat with the physios but from everything that I have heard. he should be good to go,” Rahul Dravid said of Virat Kohli at the post-match press conference.
IND vs SA: Rahul Dravid confirms ‘Virat Kohli set to return for 3rd Test’, Mohammed Siraj doubtful in Cape Town
However, things are not looking bright for Mohammed Siraj. India play the 3rd Test from January 11 in Cape Town and he will have just 4 days to recover from the injury. Mohammed Siraj bowled just 15 overs since he pulled up his hamstring on Day 2 in South Africa’s first innings and had his bowling action limited. He lost his pace and wasn’t in rhythm in those 15 overs he bowled.
KL Rahul said Mohammed Siraj is yet to recover and will be monitored. However, he added that it will not be a problem with Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav warming the bench.
“With Siraj, we need to monitor him in the nets. It’s tough to come back immediately from a hamstring issue, but we do have a good bench strength in the form of Umesh and Ishant,” KL Rahul said at the post-match presentation.
IND vs SA: Rahul Dravid confirms ‘Virat Kohli set to return for 3rd Test’, Mohammed Siraj doubtful in Cape Town
Rahul Dravid also rued missing a fully fit Mohammed Siraj to create pressure on the Proteas batsmen in the 1st innings and in the 2nd innings as well.
IND vs SA: Rahul Dravid confirms ‘Virat Kohli set to return for 3rd Test’, Mohammed Siraj doubtful in Cape Town
“The fact that we lost Siraj in the first innings through injury and him not being 100% fit right through this game was a setback. I must mention that he bravely shouldered on despite the injury and wanted to get out there and put his body on the line. We really could not use the fifth bowler,” Rahul Dravid said.
South Africa win the second Test by 7 wickets.
The series is now leveled at 1-1. #TeamIndia will bounce back in the third Test. 👍 👍 #SAvIND
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/b3aaGXmBg9 pic.twitter.com/s5z3Z01xTx
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 6, 2022
As for the match, Dean Elgar played a captain’s knock scoring an unbeaten 96 to take the hosts to a 7-wicket win levelling the 3-match series 1-1 against India. After the rain interruption, the play finally started on the penultimate day of the Test match where South Africa resumed the day with an overnight score of 118/2.
Elgar and Bavuma comfortably took South Africa home with the captain fittingly scoring the winning runs as the hosts levelled the 3-match Test series 1-1.
IND vs SA: Rahul Dravid confirms ‘Virat Kohli set to return for 3rd Test’, Mohammed Siraj doubtful in Cape Town