Virat Kohli returns home ahead of South Africa Test series due to family emergency; Ruturaj Gaikwad released: Report
Hindustan TimesJust four days left before the much-awaited two-match Test series between India and South Africa gets underway at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, but the visiting camp incurred two huge blows on Friday afternoon. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, who failed to recover from his finger injury, has been ruled out of the contest and hence been released from the squad subsequently, according to a report in Cricbuzz, while former India captain Virat Kohli had to miss the ongoing three-day intra-squad game in Pretoria to fly back home for an emergency. Virat Kohli has returned home ahead of the start of the South Africa Test series The report did not mention the exact details of the emergency, but the website has been informed by BCCI sources that Kohli will be back in time for the opening game which starts on December 26. Ishan Kishan, who kept wickets in India's Test series in West Indies, will also not be part of the contest against South Africa as he had "requested the BCCI to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons".