though virat kohli

Though Virat Kohli: On this tour of South Africa, there is a feeling of newness in the Indian Test batting line-up. Though Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are in the mix, India are without senior batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in South Africa.

Tuesday’s series opener at the SuperSport Park is going to be the first game since the Adelaide Test against Australia in 2012 where an Indian Test playing eleven will be without both Rahane and Pujara. In their place, it’s a chance for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, along with a returning KL Rahul to keep themselves in the long-term Test team picture.

With Jaiswal and Gill of attacking ilk, head coach Rahul Dravid thinks the team will encourage the young batters to be themselves with the bat. At the same time, he also expects them to keep the cricketing smarts and conditions in mind during any point in the match.