On Thursday, December 21, India defeated South Africa by 78 runs in the third ODI in Paarl to secure a 2-1 victory in the sides' bilateral ODI series.
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The result brought an end to the white-ball part of India's tour of the Rainbow Nation. The T20I series ended level at 1-1 after the first match of three was washed out.
Apart from the wins, the tour has been successful for India in terms of examining the bench strength of the national side with players like Rinku Singh, Sai Sudharshan and Arshdeep Singh all impressing.
The focus will now turn to the red-ball part of the series with the first of two matches set to begin on December 26 in Johannesburg. The Test series will see the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah back in action for the first time since the World Cup final.
India tour of South Africa: Virat Kohli returns due to family emergency
On Friday, reports from Cricbuzz stated that Virat Kohli had flown back to India following a family emergency, the exact details of which are not clear as of now.
Kohli only arrived in South Africa a few days ago, as he and fellow senior player Rohit Sharma were granted their request for a break from the white-ball matches. He is expected to return in time for the first Test.
According to Abhishek Tripathi of Jagran News, the batter has flown to London to meet his wife, actress Anushka Sharma and will return to South Africa on December 24.
लंदन में अपनी पत्नी से मिलने गए हैं विराट कोहली। 24 को दक्षिण अफ्रीका वापस आएंगे @imVkohli https://t.co/4skGgugXEz
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) December 22, 2023
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In another update from the same report, it emerged that opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad will not be fit for the Test series. Gaikwad played the first two ODIs before being replaced by Rajat Patidar for the third game, owing to a finger injury.
It appears the injury is serious enough to keep him out of both Test matches, although he was expected to be a back-up player in any case.
India are currently playing an intra-squad warm-up match in Pretoria, before the first Test.
Virat Kohli returns to Johannesburg ahead of first Test
As of December 24, Kohli has returned to Johannesburg to rejoin the Indian team before the first Test match.
🚨BREAKING: Virat Kohli has landed in Johannesburg ahead of the Boxing Day Test vs South Africa in Centurion. #SAvIND
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) December 24, 2023
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