CAPE TOWN (AFP) – India will look to Virat Kohli for inspiration and runs as they look to rebound in the decisive third Test against South Africa, which begins on Tuesday at Newlands.
After missing India’s defeat in the second Test in Johannesburg due to a back spasm, Kohli is expected to return as captain and key batsman.
Kohli’s fiery competitiveness was missing in the final stages at the Wanderers last Thursday, as South Africa chased down a difficult target of 240 to tie the series at 1-1.
The Indian coach, Rahul Dravid, pointed out that the damp outfield affected the ball and made the Indian bowlers less effective, but there seemed to be a sense of resignation as the South Africans closed in on a seven-wicket victory.
India were also hampered by the inability of any of their batters to follow in the footsteps of first-test centurion KL Rahul by converting good starts into big scores.
Kohli, who has 27 Test centuries, is capable of capitalising on a Newlands pitch that is likely to be more conducive to batters than the pitches on which the first two matches were played.
However, Kohli will have to rise to the challenge of reversing a two-year slump in form.
Although Kohli’s career Test batting average remains above 50, it has fallen below 30 since scoring 317 runs for twice out in a home series against South Africa in October 2019. He scored 136 against Bangladesh in Kolkata a month later, but has not scored another century in 14 Test matches since.