Star India batter Virat Kohli has reportedly rejoined the Indian squad for the first Test against South Africa, taking place in Centurion on December 26. There were reports a day earlier that Kohli had flown back home due to a family emergency as well. However, Kohli was in London for a family trip that was reportedly planned before and not due to a family emergency. As recently reported by News18, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team management were well aware of his travel plans and his missing the inter-squad game from December 20 to December 22 as well.
A senior BCCI official said, as quoted by News18: “Virat Kohli wasn’t going to play that game. The team management was aware of his plan and schedule, and it isn’t something which happened overnight or due to a family emergency. Look at the player in question, it’s Virat Kohli. He is very well planned when it comes to these things and his London trip was communicated and planned well in advance.”
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The official further added: “Kohli left India for South Africa on December 15. Had good 3-4 training sessions before he went to London on December 19. For the next few days, he was in London and has now linked up with the Test squad and will in all likelihood train in Centurion tomorrow.”
However, Virat Kohli was last seen in action during Team India’s 2023 World Cup final loss against Australia at Ahmedabad. Later, he was rested for the white-ball leg of the South African tour before joining the Test squad as well. Meanwhile, Team India have a tough task in hand during the Test series in South Africa as India has never managed to win the Proteas in an away Test series as well.
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Overall, South Africa have won 12 of 23 Test matches at home against India while losing only four games, with the remaining seven matches ending in a draw as well. After the first Test at Centurion, India and South Africa will play against each other in the second and final game at Cape Town, starting January 3.
