SA vs IND: Virat Kohli gives update on Mohammed Siraj's injury ahead of series decider

India and South Africa will play the third Test of the ongoing series in Cape Town on January 11. South Africa won the second Test and managed to level the series. Hence, the coming Test match will be crucial for both teams. India has played a total of five Test matches in Cape Town, out of which three have ended in a draw and South Africa has won the rest two.

Virat Kohli missed the second Test due to a back spasm and KL Rahul made his captaincy debut for India in his absence. During a press conference, Kohli confirmed that he is fit and will feature in the next Test. Kohli further mentioned that Mohammed Siraj who suffered a hamstring injury has not recovered and might miss the next game.

“I am absolutely fit but Siraj is not 100 percent fit and we don’t want to risk a fast bowler not being 100 percent fit so, ya,” Kohli said in the press conference.

Siraj suffered the injury during the first innings of the Johannesburg Test as he could bowl only 9.5 overs. South African batters were looking really great in the middle but a seven-for from Shardul Thakur helped India bundle out the opponent for 229. Siraj bowled six overs in the second innings despite his injury but couldn’t pick a wicket. His absence was one of the reasons India lost the second Test match.

Virat Kohli would play the 99th Test match of his career

The second Test match would be the 99th for Indian captain Virat Kohli who made his Test debut back in 2011 against West Indies. In the 98 Test matches, Kohli has made 7854 runs at an average of 50.34. He has hit 27 centuries and 27 half-centuries in his Test career.

But, he hasn’t had that much success lately. Kohli last made a century in Test cricket back in November 2019 against Bangladesh. In 2020, he could play only three matches and made 116 runs. In the 11 matches in 2021, Kohli made 536 runs at an average of 28.21 and hit four half-centuries.