Jadeja takes ill but Dhawan fit to play

MUMBAI: India are sweating over the fitness of Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the first Test against South Africa in Cape Town from January 5. But there is good news as Shikhar Dhawan is available for selection. According to the news, Jadeja is down with a viral infection and is undergoing treatment. A BCCI in India statement says that Jadeja has been unwell for the past two days and will be taken to hospital to recover fully in the next 48 hours. A decision on Jadeja’s selection will be taken on January 5 morning.

Meanwhile, India opener Shikhar Dhawan is fit and is available for selection. Dhawan had suffered a minor ankle injury before the team’s departure to South Africa.

Virat Kohli’s side have won nine successive series to climb to the top of the International Cricket Council’s rankings but most of the success has come on batting friendly wickets.

South Africa are expected to prepare ‘green top’ wickets for the Tests in Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg, all squeezed into January, to hand India an unfamiliar and difficult challenge.

India squad for the three-match Test series: Virat Kohli (captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.