IND vs SA: Virat Kohli flew back home from South Africa due to family emergency, reason unknown

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Senior India cricketer Virat Kohli flew back to India from South Africa due to a family emergency. The reason for his urgent flight back home is still unknown.

The 35-year-old cricketer from Delhi even skipped the three-day intra-squad practice match as Team India prepares for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, starting December 26 at Centurion in Johannesburg.

As per a Cricbuzz report, the BCCI has assured that Kohli - who will be one of the most important members of India's Test side - will be back on time and feature in the first of two red-ball matches.

As per the Cricbuzz, Kohli obtained permission from the team management and skipped the three-day practice game organised by BCCI in which Indian players are currently involved in Pretoria. Kohli is expected to return on Friday (December 22).

In another blow for Team India, batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the Test series Down Under after sustaining a finger injury. Gaikwad, the Maharashtra batter, sat out of the final ODI against South Africa on Thursday (December 21) in Paarl, which the Men In Blue won.

India ODI captain in the series, KL Rahul informed that the opener was left out after 'doing some damage to his finger'. Gaikwad, one of the four openers in the red ball squad, is slated to miss the Test series commencing on December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

According to the Cricbuzz report, Gaikwad has not recuperated from his injury, compelling the team management to release him ahead of the series next week.

The 26-year-old sustained the injury during the second ODI against South Africa in Port Elizabeth on December 19. The BCCI stated that he "hasn't fully recovered from the blow he sustained to his ring finger while fielding in the second ODI" and is still under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team.

The report suggests that it is unlikely for him to recover before either of the two Tests. After consulting the BCCI, the team management has decided to release him immediately, and he is expected to return to India over the weekend.

Currently, there is no official confirmation regarding Gaikwad's availability for the Tests. India, having already named KS Bharat as a replacement for Ishan Kishan, may consider Sarfaraz Khan or Abhimanyu Easwaran for the squad.

Following the conclusion of the Boxing Day Test on December 30, India and South Africa will face off in the second Test, commencing on January 3, 2024, at Newlands in Cape Town.