Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah was named the vice-captain of the side for the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg after KL Rahul replaced Virat Kohli as the captain. Kohli was ruled out of the Test match due to an upper back spasm after which Rahul walked out for the coin toss along with Proteas skipper Dean Elgar and became the 34th Indian player to captain his country in the longest format of the game.

In an official release, BCCI said, “Team India captain Mr Virat Kohli had a spasm on his upper back this morning. He won’t feature in the second Test against South Africa at The Wanderers. The BCCI medical team will be monitoring him during the course of this Test match. KL Rahul will captain the side in his absence.”

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain for the 2nd Test,” the release further said.

It also mentioned that batsman Shreyas Iyer was also ruled out of the game due to a stomach bug and Hanuma Vihari replaced Kohli in the playing XI. After his heroics in the SCG Test last year, this was Vihari’s first appearance for India in a Test match.

Rahul won the toss and elected to bat first as he and his opening partner Mayank Agarwal gave a steady start to help India get through the first 10 overs. Rahul was very watchful while Mayank played his shots as the opening pair stitched a 36-run stand before left-armer Marco Jansen dismissed the latter for 26.

Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara then took the innings forward as they played out a tough spell from South Africa’s four-pronged pace attack and returning Duanne Olivier delivered for the hosts. Olivier skittled out Pujara and ex-vice captain Ajinkya Rahane in consecutive deliveries as South Africa reduced India to 49/3. 

Vihari joined stand-in skipper Rahul in the middle as India find themselves at 53/3 at lunch at the Wanderers.