Johannesburg: India’s top fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was on Monday appointed as the vice-captain for the second Test against South Africa. In the absence of injured captain Virat Kohli, Lokesh Rahul has been given the responsibility of captaincy. According to a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), regular captain Kohli is not playing this match due to stiffness in the upper back.
Apart from this, middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has also been ruled out of the match due to stomach problem. “The All India Senior Selection Committee has appointed Jasprit Bumrah as the Vice-Captain for the second Test,” the BCCI said in a statement. Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer has also been ruled out of the selection race for the second Test due to stomach ache. Iyer made a stellar start to his Test career with a century and a half-century in his home series debut against New Zealand at the end of last year.
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Bumrah has also been appointed as India’s vice-captain for the ODI series against South Africa starting January 19. With reference to Kohli, the BCCI said that the superstar batsman was troubled by stiffness in his upper back this morning. The BCCI said, “He will not play in the second Test against South Africa at The Wanderers. The BCCI medical team will take care of him during the Test match.
Kohli, who has failed to score a century for more than two years, will miss his Test century in the final Test of the ongoing series in Cape Town. The thirty-three-year-old will play in the ODI series against South Africa. Rahul will lead Team India in that series as the newly appointed captain of the limited overs format Rohit Sharma has been ruled out due to an injury.
If all goes well, Kohli will now play his 100th Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in February as per the Indian team’s schedule. India won the first Test of the series last week and now the team’s eyes are set on winning the first Test series in South Africa. (agency)