Virat batted in the nets and looks fit: Umesh
RANCHI: Injured India captain Virat Kohli didn’t enter the field on the second day of the Test, but paceman Umesh Yadav believes the key batsman will be ready when he has to bat.
Kohli hurt his right shoulder after landing heavily while tryingto make as top during the afternoon session on the first day. He walked off wincing in pain.
However, the BCCI, in a statement late on Thursday said there was nothing serious and Kohli had only suffered a strain and was being provided treatment to help him take part in the game.
Kohli did come out before Friday’s warm-up, with the BCCI sharing the footage and tweeting “Captain returns. Game on!” However, it was his deputy Ajinkya Rahane who continued to lead through the day.
TV pictures showed Kohli standing in the dressing room, and shadow practicing. There was a tape on his shoulder and he could be seen trying to lift the shoulder.
A huge crowd turned up on Thursday night when Virat Kohli was taken to a Ranchi hospital to undergo scans to assess the injury.
Fast bowler, Umesh Yadav, told reporters after Friday’s play that Virat Kohli was fit to play. “The bandage (tape) will obviously remain after an injury. But I think he’s fit to play. The way he’s practicing at the nets, it seems he’s all set to come back,” he said.
As it was an injury suffered on the field, Kohli will be permitted to bat at his usual No 4 spot, although it needs to be seen whether he will take a gamble by batting at the fall of the next wicket. Kohli will be eager though, having made just 40 runs in the four innings of the series.