SA vs IND: Virat Kohli departs to South Africa ahead of two-match Test series

Ace India batter Virat Kohli has departed to South Africa to take part in the two-match Test series, their second series in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. The first Test match is scheduled to begin from December 26 at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium in Centurion, followed by the next game on January 3, 2024, at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.

Kohli along with captain Rohit Sharma has been rested for the T20Is and subsequent ODIs against the Proteas. The 35-year-old hasn't played a game since India's heartbreaking defeat against Australia in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. In addition, India levelled the T20I series against South Africa 1-1 while the three-match ODI series will begin on December 17 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Kohli was spotted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, in Mumbai upon his journey to South Africa. The former India captain was donning a brown jacket and a duffle bag and was seen posing for a selfie with the airport staff.

Watch the video:

Virat Kohli has left for South Africa.

Good luck for the Test series, King...!!!pic.twitter.com/XOixFnCjvI

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 15, 2023

Virat Kohli holds impressive Test record against South Africa

Virat Kohli boasts an outstanding Test record against South Africa. In a total of 14 Tests played between both sides, the 35-year-old has accumulated 1236 runs at an impressive average of 56.18. His best Test score 254* also came against the Proteas in 2019. Meanwhile, he has played a total of seven Test matches in South Africa and has scored 719 runs, averaging at 51.35 with his best score being 153 runs in 2018. He has also slammed three centuries and four fifties against the South African team.

Overall in Tests, he has amassed a total of 8676 runs in 187 innings at an average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 55.23. The former India captain has scored 29 centuries and as many half-centuries in the longest format of the game.