India Test skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for the second Test against South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg owing to an upper back spasm. KL Rahul will be leading the Indian team in his stead as the visitors eye a historic Test series win in the Rainbow Nation having taken a 1-0 lead in Centurion last week.
“Unfortunately Virat has had an upper back spasm and hopefully he’ll recover for the next Test,” said Rahul after he won the toss and opted to bat first.
This will be the first time Rahul will be leading the Indian team in any format of the game. He is also slated to lead the ODI side in the three-match series against South Africa which begins from January 19 onwards in Paarl, after Rohit Sharma failed to recover from his hamstring injury.
“It is every Indian player’s dream to captain his country. Really honoured and looking forward to this challenge. We have had a few good wins here and hopefully we’ll look to continue that,” he added.
Kohli’s absence offered Hanuma Vihari an opportunity to feature in the second Test. He had scored three gritty half-centuries for India A in South Africa last November to help the visitors level the series.
