Virat Kohli will be fit very soon, says Cheteshwar Pujara | Cricket News – Times of India
2 years ago 3 min read
JOHANNESBURG: Middle-order batter Cheteshwar Pujara on Wednesday said that skipper Virat Kohli, who missed the ongoing second Test due to back spasm, was getting better and will soon regain fitness to play. “Officially I cannot reveal anything more but now he (Kohli) is definitely getting better and I feel that he will be fit very soon,” Pujara said during a media interaction.
Kohli was ruled out of the second Test against South Africa here just before start of the game because of an upper back spasm, leaving KL Rahul to lead the side in the crucial match. Rahul had said at the toss that Kohli is expected to be available for the third and final Test from January 11 to be held in Cape Town. Pujara said the exact status on Kohli’s fitness would come from team physio.
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In Pics: Elgar defies Indian bowlers as South Africa launch tough chase in second Test
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<p>South African captain Dean Elgar defied a hostile Indian bowling attack on a difficult pitch to lead his team’s quest for a series-levelling win on the third day of the second Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday. (AFP Photo)</p>
<p>Set to make 240 to win, South Africa were 118 for two at the close, with Elgar unbeaten on 46 after facing 121 balls in a three-hour examination of his skills and resolve. The left-handed Elgar was struck on the neck by a ball from Jasprit Bumrah and on the right hand by Shardul Thakur, with both injuries requiring treatment on the field. (AP Photo)</p>
<p>South Africa made a bright start, with Aiden Markram stroking 31 off 38 balls in an opening stand of 47 with Elgar. But Markram fell leg before wicket to first innings bowling hero Thakur, who won a verdict from umpire Marais Erasmus after two earlier unsuccessful appeals in the same over. (AP Photo)</p>
<p>It was off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who made the second breakthrough when he trapped Keegan Petersen in front of his stumps for 28 with the total on 93. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)</p>
<p>India’s second innings total of 266 owed much to Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who put on 111 for the third wicket. The two veterans, criticised recently after a string of low scores, both went to rapid half-centuries as they took advantage of inconsistent bowling by South Africa on a pitch still offering plenty of help to fast bowlers. (Reuters Photo)</p>
<p>Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada brought South Africa back into the match with a burst of three wickets after Pujara and Rahane added 66 runs in 14 overs to the overnight total of 85 for two with the most fluent batting of the match. Rabada struck in the first over after the mid-morning drinks break when Rahane was caught behind for 58, scored off 78 balls with eight fours and a six. (Reuters Photo)</p>
<p>In his next over Rabada trapped Pujara leg before wicket for 53. Pujara reached his half-century off 62 balls with 10 fours but only added another three from 24 deliveries before his dismissal. (AP Photo)</p>
<p>Rishabh Pant was struck on the shoulder by a Rabada bouncer and then charged at the next ball and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne to depart for nought. (ANI Photo)</p>
<p>Hanuma Vihari made 40 not out and there was aggressive batting from Ravichandran Ashwin (16) and Shardul Thakur (28) as India added 99 runs for the loss of their last five wickets. Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen took three wickets apiece. (AFP Photo)</p>
Kohli, who has been battling a prolonged lean patch, thus will not be able to complete his landmark 100th Test in the series-finale at Cape Town. As per the Indian team’s fixtures, Kohli, if all goes well, will now get to play his 100th Test against Sri Lanka at Bengaluru in February, provided he gets to play the third and final match against South Africa.
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