India’s leading pacer Jasprit Bumrah was on Monday appointed vice-captain for the second Test against South Africa after KL Rahul was elevated as skipper in the absence of injured Virat Kohli.
Besides regular captain Kohli, who is missing the crucial match owing to upper back spasm, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer was also ruled out of the game due to a stomach bug, the BCCI said in a statement. “The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain for the 2nd Test,” the Board statement read, adding, “Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer was also ruled out of selection for the 2nd Test owing to a stomach bug.”
Iyer made a magnificent start to his Test career, scoring a hundred and a half-century on debut in the home series against New Zealand towards the end of last year.
Bumrah had been appointed vice-captain for the limited overs series against the Proteas starting January 19, a move that was widely seen as an acknowledgement for his all-format consistency over the years.
Regarding Kohli, the BCCI said the superstar batter “had a spasm on his upper back this morning”.
“He won’t feature in the second Test against South Africa at The Wanderers. The BCCI medical team will be monitoring him during the course of this Test match.”
Kohli, who has been battling a prolonged lean patch with the willow, will thus not be able to complete his landmark 100th Test in the series-finale at Cape Town.
The 33-year-old will be playing in the ODI series against the Proteas starting January 19. Rahul will captain India in that rubber as newly-appointed white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma is out injured.
Captain Kohli ruled out of second Test due to back spasm
India captain Virat Kohli was on Monday ruled out of the second Test against South Africa here just before start of the game because of an upper back spasm, leaving K L Rahul to lead the side in the crucial match.
Rahul said at the toss that Kohli is expected to be available for the third and final Test from January 11.
“Unfortunately, Virat is having an upper back spasm. The physios are working on him and hopefully he will recover in time for the next Test,” Rahul said at the toss when asked about Kohli’s absence from the match.
All-rounder Hanuma Vihari has come in the playing XI to replace Kohli.
Kohli, who has been battling a prolonged lean patch with the willow, will thus not be able to complete his landmark 100th Test in the series-finale at Cape Town.