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Cheteshwar Pujara on Wednesday said that skipper Virat Kohli, who missed the ongoing second Test due to a back spasm, was getting better and will soon regain fitness to play. Virat Kohli was ruled out of the second Test against South Africa here just before the start of the game because of an upper back spasm, leaving KL Rahul to lead the side in the crucial match.

KL Rahul had said at the toss that Virat Kohli is expected to be available for the third and final Test from January 11 to be held in Cape Town. KL Rahul’s life has taken a 180-degree turn over the last six months with a dramatic revival of his Test career.

It was only six months ago that the keeper was nowhere near making India’s first-choice XI in Tests. In fact, the right-handed opening batter did not feature in a Test match for India for two years between 2019 and 2021.

Cheteshwar Pujara Informs Virat Kohli Is Getting Better

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has hinted that Virat Kohli will be fit for the 3rd and the final Test match of the series against South Africa. He is missing the ongoing fixture in Johannesburg due to a back spasm.

“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.

Virat Kohli is highly likely to be fit for 3rd Test. | Photo Credit: AP

Cheteshwar Pujara said the exact status of Virat Kohli’s fitness would come from team physio. Virat 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, Virat 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.

Virat Kohli Suffering From A Back Spasm, Missed A Test For 3rd Time Due To Injury

Only for the 3rd time in his career, Virat Kohli is missing a Test match due to fitness issues and he isn’t a part of the playing XI in the ongoing fixture against South Africa in Johannesburg.

The fans were glued to their TV screens to see Virat Kohli walk out for the toss on day 1 of the 2nd Test but were surprised when stand-in vice-captain KL Rahul came out. KL Rahul, who will be leading the Men in Blue in 3 ODIs, revealed that the Test skipper is suffering from a back spasm.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)

Should Virat Kohli be fit, Hanuma Vihari might have to sit out despite his unbeaten 40 in Team India’s second innings. The team management has been backing senior batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane and they are favourites to retain their spots even if Virat Kohli returns.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who only managed 3 of 33 in the first innings, scored 53 off 86 in the second innings while striking at 61.63. Ajinkya Rahane, who bagged a first-ball duck in the first innings, scored a responsible 58 off 78. The senior duo added 111 runs for the 3rd wicket to help the visitors breach the 150-run mark.

KL Rahul captained India in Test cricket for the first time after Virat Kohli was ruled out of the second Test against South Africa due to upper back spasms. Earlier a hamstring injury led to Rohit Sharma not making the trip to South Africa and KL Rahul being elevated to the role of vice-captain.