India stand-in Captain KL Rahul Won the toss and Elected to bat first in the Second Test

Virat Kohli will miss the second Test due to injury, Hamuna Vihari has replaced him in the squad

India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul has won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test against South Africa.

“It’s a dream to captain your country, so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Rahul, who was one of the top performers in India’s 113-run victory in last week’s first test.

“We’ve had a few good wins here at the Wanderers and will want to continue that,” he added. India is unbeaten in five previous tests at the Wanderers, with two victories and three draws.

Rahul is leading the side in the absence of the skipper, Virat Kohli, who has been forced out of the match due to an upper back injury.

“Virat is having an upper back spasm. The physios are working on him and hopefully, he will recover in time for the next Test,” KL Rahul said after the toss.

Kohli is replaced by the 28-year-old Hanuma Vihari in India’s only change. Vihari is expected to bat at No. 5 in his 13th test but first since playing against Australia in Sydney one year ago.

Hosts South Africa is without wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who announced his retirement from test cricket immediately after the loss to India in the first test.

Kyle Verreyne replaces De Kock while Duanne Olivier has been picked over Wiaan Mulder in the other change for the home side.

India is leading the three-match Test series by 1-0.

India playing XI: KL Rahul (capt.), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj. 

South Africa playing XI: Dean Elgar (capt.), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreyne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi.