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SA vs IND | 3rd Test | Kohli ready for comeback, Siraj declared unfit

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli confirmed on Monday, January 10 that he is fit and ready to play in the third Test against South Africa, starting January 11th at the Newlands in Cape Town. However, he also said that Mohammed Siraj will not be available for selection. 

“Mohammed Siraj is not match-ready to play the third Test, we can't take the risk,” Kohli said in a virtual press conference on Monday. "I am absolutely fit," he added while saying that injuries are a natural occurrence and we have to balance it out. 

While Siraj had sustained a hamstring injury during the first innings, Kohli missed the game due to a back spasm. 

Kohli spoke on other topics as well, including how Rishabh Pant needs to take responsibility for his actions. "I think Rishabh Pant will learn from his mistakes and come out as a better cricketer. We did have a chat with him and I'm sure he is a matured cricketer to learn from his mistakes," Kohli said. 

Pant had got out playing a nothing shot, a shot that could be best described as self-destructing. He played that shot at a time when India needed him to stay at the crease. 

The three-match series is squared at 1-1 at the moment and it is a golden opportunity for India to win its first-ever bilateral Test series against the Proteas away from home.

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BBL 2021-22: Alex Hales anchors Sydney Thunder to thumping win over Hobart Hurricanes

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NZ vs BAN | 2nd Test | Day 2: Hosts put up all-round show to take charge against Bangladesh

New Zealand continued their dominance against Bangladesh in the second Test in Christchurch after piling up a huge total of 521/6 (D) and then bundling out the visitors for 126 in the first innings. The Blackcaps had concluded the first day's proceedings at 349/1 with Tom Latham at 186* and Devon Conway at 99*. The two batters though couldn’t really add much to their partnership on the second day as Conway was run out for 109 with the team score reading 363/2. Latham was then joined by Ross Taylor in the middle and stitched a partnership of 48 runs with him before Taylor departed for 28. The hosts then lost a couple of quick wickets but Latham went on to notch up 252 during the course. The wicket-keeper batsman Tom Blundell also chipped in with an unbeaten fifty. Later, the New Zealand pacers rattled the Bangladesh batting unit as Trent Boult scalped a fifer while Tim Southee picked up three wickets and Kyle Jamieson had two to his name. The visitors had a struggling start as they lost early wickets and were left tottering at 27/5. Yasir Ali and Nurul Hasan then tried to provide some resistance to the team and put up a partnership of 60 runs but Hasan was eventually sent back for 41 by Southee. Yasir scored a fifty for his side but that wasn’t really enough as the visiting team was bowled out and now trail by 395 runs. The left-arm pacer Boult completed 300 Test wickets with this five-wicket haul, said that the milestones don’t really matter and also explained how the track had good amount of pace and bounce on offer. “Milestones don't really matter, there are some big names in this list. There was a good amount of pace and bounce on this wicket, enjoyed bowling on the surface - with Southee in, gives us a left-right combination well. Yes, we're in a great position. It's just about bowling with line and length, there is always something on offer from the pitch. It helped that the boys got a good total on the board as well,” he said after the day’s play. New Zealand presently trail the two-match series 0-1.