SA vs IND: Star India batter returns home due to family emergency ahead of boxing day Test in centurion

As the much-anticipated two-match Test series between India and South Africa looms just four days away, the Indian squad faces setbacks. With the exclusion of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and the temporary absence of former captain Virat Kohli, the team will be without two key players.

According to media reports, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the series after failing to recover in time. The young batter is grappling with a lingering finger injury sustained during the second ODI against South Africa. The injury forced him to miss the third ODI, paving the way for Rajat Patidar's debut. Meanwhile, the media reports reveal that the board's medical team has asked the team management to release him as he is unlikely to be fit in time.

More shockingly, in an unforeseen development, Virat Kohli had to cut short his participation in the ongoing three-day intra-squad game in Pretoria due to an undisclosed family emergency. This prompted him to fly back to Mumbai three days ago. While the exact nature of the emergency remains undisclosed, sources related to the board have assured that Kohli will rejoin the squad before the series opener on December 26.

Can India conquer the South African fortress without key players?

This comes as another blow for India, which is already grappling with the absence of pacer Mohammed Shami. He has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has also withdrawn his name from the tour. He requested release from the test series due to personal reasons.

On a positive note, the intra-squad game showcased promising performances from key players, including red-ball regulars Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, along with Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur. Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran also displayed commendable form. The upcoming Test series promises to be a challenging endeavour for India as they strive to secure a historic series win on South African soil.