All eyes can be on Virat Kohli as India tackle South Africa in a two-match Test sequence. Kohli will return to motion after being out of motion for greater than a month, following India’s World Cup remaining loss to Australia on November 19. India haven’t received a Test sequence within the Rainbow Nation, however got here near doing so throughout their final tour below Kohli’s management. India received the primary Test, however conceded the sequence 1-2 towards the Proteas, with Kohli lacking the second Test because of a again harm. With wounds of India’s World Cup remaining loss but to be healed, Kohli and Team India, below the management of Rohit Sharma, will look to create historical past by profitable the Test sequence.

Ahead of the sequence, Kohli make clear his Test journey to this point, and the way the format provides him immense “job satisfaction”.

“Test cricket for me is the foundation of the game. It’s history. It’s cultuure. It’s heritage. It’s everything. You come out on the otherside after four-five days, it’s a different feeling from anything else that you’ve experienced. As an individual, as a team, the job satisfaction of having played a long innings and winning your team a Test match is a special feeling. I am a traditionalist so playing in whites, playing Test cricket is everything. Really honoured to play more than 100 Tests for the country and pursue my dream of becoming a Test cricketer,” Kohli mentioned in a video uploaded by Star Sports.

Test cricket is the hardest & most demanding however the very best type of cricket!

It’s pure, wealthy in historical past & heritage, say legends @ImRo45 & @imVkohli forward of the Final Frontier vs #SouthAfrica.

Tune-in the first #SAvIND Test
TUE, DEC 26, 12:30 PM | Star Sports Network pic.twitter.com/wZDFGlVAVC

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 23, 2023

This is Kohli’s first interview after the World Cup remaining loss.

It has been reported that Kohli has returned house because of a household emergency, simply days earlier than the beginning of the primary Test towards South Africa.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources, nonetheless, have confirmed that the long-lasting batter can be again in time for the primary Test, which begins on December 26, towards the Proteas in Centurion.

The Test sequence is ready to mark the return of Kohli, together with skipper Rohit Sharma, pacer Jasprit Bumrah and some different members of India’s ODI World Cup squad. Since India’s heartbreaking defeat towards Australia within the World Cup remaining, Kohli, Rohit and another senior members of the Indian staff have been away from cricket.

Virat had missed India’s T20I sequence towards South Africa in addition to the white-ball assignments towards South Africa. However, he made himself accessible for the Test sequence from the beginning.

It is not but recognized what the ‘household emergency’ is that prompted Virat to return house simply 4 days earlier than the beginning of the Test sequence. But, the emergency does not appear to be an advanced one as Kohli has assured the BCCI of his return to the staff earlier than the Test sequence begins.

(With PTI Inputs)