Virat Kohli likely to be rested for Delhi Test, Bumrah in contention for SA tour

The third Test vs Sri Lanka is at Virat Kohli’s homeground, Ferozeshah Kotla, but the captain has been voicing the need of a break to stay fresh and this is the best chance to recharge his batteries before the tough South Africa tour

With India skipper Virat Kohli voicing the need for a break, there are chances that the national selection committee, that on Monday picks the teams for the remaining matches against Sri Lanka and the Tests in South Africa, may consider his demand seriously. (IND v SL Day 3 Highlights)

Virat Kohli plays a shot on the third day of the second Test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka. The skipper might be rested for the final Test at New Delhi. (AFP)

The third Test against Sri Lanka is at Kohli’s home ground, Ferozeshah Kotla, and it looks likely that the committee comprising MSK Prasad, Sarandeep Singh and Devang Gandhi may rest the skipper for it and the subsequent ODIs and T20Is. (IND v SL Day 3 scorecard)

This is the best chance to recharge his batteries before the tough South Africa tour that begins in late-December. The break will also allow him time to deal with personal work. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan opted out of the second Test to deal with matters of personal interest.

SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD

India are likely to carry a couple of extra players to South Africa. They might want to fit in an extra bowler and a back-up wicketkeeper.

If the selectors choose to add to their pace arsenal, then limited-overs sensation Jasprit Bumrah is the frontrunner to join the quartet of Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav. But with the bouncy tracks of South Africa expected to suit chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav also, there could be a toss-up between Bumrah and the spinner for the extra bowler’s slot.

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja should be the two main spinners. The batting line-up picks itself. Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan for the opening slot with Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya (all-rounder) and Rohit Sharma forming the middle-order. Parthiv Patel could be back as the second wicketkeeper.

The first Test against South Africa is on January 5.