India vs South Africa: Shardul Thakur Avoids Bowling at Nets; Rohit Sharma Says No Injury Concerns In Squad

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India vs South Africa 2nd Test is all set to get underway in Cape Town on Wednesday (December 3) and on the eve of the match Shardul Thakur was not spotted bowling during the training session following a left shoulder injury a couple of days ago.

Pace all-rounder Shardul Thakur, however, was declared fit and available for the second Test. Rohit Sharma declared at the pre-match press conference that all players, including Ravindra Jadeja and Thakur, are available for selection.

However, PTI reported that Shardul Thakur has some ankle concerns and that's why didn't bowl in the last two training sessions. The report further confirmed Ravindra Jadeja has completely recovered from back spasm.

Rohit Sharma shared his thoughts on the pitch before the match, saying that pace and bounce at Newlands will be similar to Centurion but the heat here will be a factor.

"Pitch looks similar to what we had in Centurion. May be not so much grass (on Supersport Park track) but enough covering of grass but overhead conditions will matter as it is very hot compared to Centurion," said Rohit Sharma. "In 2021, I wasn't here (because of injury) but guys who were here, told me it was similar conditions, we know exactly what needs to be done. Based on how pitch is, we got to respond to that."

Likes of Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill have struggled to deal with the bouncy pitches of South Africa but Rohit Sharma backed his young top-order batters to do better in future while seeing these games as overseas exposure.

"These three guys (including Yashasvi Jaiswal) haven't played a lot of cricket but have been around the team for number of years and you have to find the positivity to take the game to next level. When you score against a team like that, it gives you a lot of confidence to go ahead in your career," the skipper said.

"At some stage, we all have faced situations like this, opposition like this and we all have done it. For them, they will learn a lot and tomorrow will be another opportunity to learn what is required, its not going to be easy."