India drop hints at Rahane return

India on Sunday hinted at a recall for Ajinkya Rahane in the third cricket Test against South Africa, days after his omission from the first two matches of the series raised eyebrows.

One of the most successful Indian batsmen overseas in recent years, vice-captain Rahane was not picked for the Tests at Cape Town and Centurion, with the Indian team management instead preferring to go with limited overs specialist Rohit Sharma on "current form".

Sharma's failure to live up to the expectations and the Indian batting's inability to stand up to the South African pace attack in the preceding matches attracted widespread criticism, leading to a fiery press conference in the aftermath of the series loss in Centurion. Even in the face of backto-back humiliating defeats, the Indian team management, led by skipper Virat Kohli, remained defiant on team selection.

However, if today's practice session at the Wanderers was any indication, there is a possibility of Rahane being drafted back into the playing XI for the inconsequential third Test starting here on Wednesday.

Interestingly enough, at the nets, Rahane padded up and lined up along with Kohli and Hardik Pandya in what could be the suggestive middle-order in the upcoming Test.

Bavuma out

Meanwhile, South African batsman Temba Bavuma was on Sunday ruled out of the third Test against India owing to a fractured ring finger.

The final Test of the three-match series begins at the the Wanderers from Wednesday. Bavuma suffered the injury while playing for Cape Cobras in a domestic One-Day tournament this past week, and is expected to be out for three to four weeks.

However, despite injury, Bavuma will remain a part of the South Africa Test squad, with the selectors opting not to name a replacement batsman.