Why did Virat Kohli fly home ahead of Boxing Day Test match against South Africa? Check here for details

Not just Kohli, even Ruturaj Gaikwad is not taking part in the intra-squad game. Gaikwad, however, has been ruled out of the Test series due to a finger injury.

Why did Virat Kohli fly home ahead of Boxing Day Test match against South Africa? Check here for details

Virat Kohli (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Virat Kohli has returned home due to a family emergency ahead of the Boxing Day Test match against South Africa starting December 26 in Centurion. However, the details of the emergency are not clear.

As Kohli went home, he had to miss the three-day intra-squad game in Pretoria. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Kohli will join the team to play the first Test match. He is expected to be back on December 22 (as per Cricbuzz’s report).

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Not just Kohli, even Ruturaj Gaikwad is not taking part in the intra-squad game. Gaikwad, however, has been ruled out of the Test series due to a finger injury.

He suffered the injury during the second ODI against South Africa at Port Elizabeth on December 19. Since then, he has not yet recovered fully. He is expected to arrive in India on Saturday.

Sanjay Manjrekar wants to see a fired-up Virat Kohli in South Africa Test series

Former India cricketer and current commentator Sanjay Manjrekar wants to see a fired-up Virat Kohli in the upcoming series. He claimed Kohli and Australia’s David Warner score a lot of runs on the field when they get angry.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Image via ESPNcricinfo)
On his last trip to South Africa, he did not get a big one and Kohli has had to work harder for Test runs recently. When Virat Kohli is all fired up and angry, that's the sight I like. David Warner as well. When they get a little fired up, you see them batting better.
Manjrekar said on Star Sports

Kohli did not have a great series when India last came to South Africa for Test matches. He could collect just 161 runs in two matches with the highest score of 79 runs.

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