Former India captain and maverick batter, Virat Kohli has returned to India ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. Sports Tak has learned, the 35-year-old superstar has flown back home owing to personal reasons. The exact reason is still unknown. Furthermore, the source in the know-how of the development claimed that Kohli will be available for selection in the first Test match against South Africa, scheduled to begin on December 26 in Centurion. One of the reports claimed that Kohli returned to India due to a family emergency.
It is being reported that Kohli left for India three days ago and is scheduled to rejoin the squad in South Africa before the first Test gets underway in Centurion.
Virat Kohli was rested for the limited-overs leg of India's tour of South Africa, which included a three-match T20I series and three ODIs. The T20I series between India and South Africa ended with both teams tied at 1-1, as the opening game was abandoned due to rain.
The ODI series saw KL Rahul's men overpower South Africa by a margin of 2-1 with the Men in Blue winning the first and third matches of the series and the Proteas bagging a win in the second game of the series.
Meanwhile, India's Test squad for the South Africa series has seen a couple of changes in recent times after the official squad was announced by the Indian cricket board. Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who was the best bowler in the 2023 ODI World Cup, was ruled out from the South Africa Test series as he failed to regain full fitness.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan also pulled out of the series owing to personal reasons and as a result, KS Bharat was included in the squad.
India’s Test squad for two Tests against South Africa: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat
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