Team India Test captain Virat Kohli on Monday, confirmed that pace bowler Mohammed Siraj isn’t fit enough to take the field and hence will miss the third and final Test of the series against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. Kohli said that Siraj hasn’t recovered fully from his hamstring niggle and the team doesn’t want to take a risk since as a fast bowler his niggle could become an injury during the game.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Kohli said, “Siraj obviously is recovering from the niggle he had in the last game. And, at present, I do not think that he is match-ready, to take the field in the third Test. You obviously cannot risk a guy who is not at 110 percent as a fast bowler because we know how important that little niggle opening up and extending into a injury could be for the team.”

With Siraj not available, the visitors will have a selection headache on whom to go for in his place — Umesh Yadav or Ishant Sharma. Along with the same, Kohli also confirmed that he is absolutely fit to play the third Test.

‘Couldn’t believer I was missing a game’

Talking about it later in the presser, Kohli said that he couldn’t believe that he was missing a Test match due to an injury and almost felt guilty to not take the field and miss a game for his side. The 33-year old said that missing a game due to back spasm, also reminded him of the fact how many players, who are not part of the playing XI regularly would feel.

“Obviously, I have experienced that initially in my career but later, God has been kind that I didn’t have to face that situation many times and I am grateful for that. I almost felt guilty for not playing the second Test, ‘how could I suffer a spasm’ and you don’t accept the same. 

“The situation has been such that I have been playing all the three formats constantly, along with the IPL and workload obviously is more when you play consistently. Add to that, training days in the gym, travelling days so it’s an accumulation of all these things. So, it is taken for granted that ‘he will play every match’ like there won’t be an issue of fitness with him. 

“Before this, whenever I got a spasm it happened in between the game, it didn’t happen before the match, so during the game, you can manage it somehow but when it takes place before a match, it’s a weird feeling that I won’t be able to play,” he further added.

With the series squared 1-1, Kohli will be eager to take India to its maiden series victory in South Africa in the decider.