<p>As the Indian cricket team faced South Africa in the first Test of the two-match series in Centurion, seasoned professionals like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah celebrated their return to the field. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was left out of the starting lineup announcement made by captain Rohit Sharma. The lineup included Shardul Thakur and Ravichandran Ashwin, but Jadeja’s name was missing. Then it was disclosed that the left-arm spinner’s ailment prevented him from playing in the starting eleven.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-323560″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-boxing-day-test-rohit-sharma-describes-why-ravindra-jadeja-was-not-present-jadeja–750×494.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com boxing day test rohit sharma describes why ravindra jadeja was not present jadeja” width=”832″ height=”548″ title=”Boxing Day Test: Rohit Sharma Describes Why Ravindra Jadeja Was Not Present 3″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-boxing-day-test-rohit-sharma-describes-why-ravindra-jadeja-was-not-present-jadeja–750×494.jpg 750w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-boxing-day-test-rohit-sharma-describes-why-ravindra-jadeja-was-not-present-jadeja–768×506.jpg 768w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-boxing-day-test-rohit-sharma-describes-why-ravindra-jadeja-was-not-present-jadeja–150×99.jpg 150w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-boxing-day-test-rohit-sharma-describes-why-ravindra-jadeja-was-not-present-jadeja-.jpg 820w” sizes=”(max-width: 832px) 100vw, 832px” /></p>
<p>“The morning before the game, Ravindra Jadeja complained of upper back pains. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said before the commencement of the match that “he was not available for selection for the first Test.”</p>
<p>When the toss was called, India captain Rohit said that he wasn’t sure whether he should bowl or bat first on the wicket. Was thus glad to have lost the toss.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t sure (about bowling or batting). We have visited this location a few times, therefore we are well aware of the circumstances. The bowlers will take care of the run total for us; all we have to do is score runs. The lads are eager for the task, but we do recognize that batting first is difficult given the overhead circumstances and the grass. We always come here with great expectations. In the last two tours, we’ve been quite close. With our team and the composition of our team, we feel quite secure,” he said.</p>
<p>Regarding his team’s makeup, Rohit verified that Jadeja was not present because of back pain.</p>
<p>“There are four seamers and one spinner in our game. Jadeja is not playing; Ashwin is. Since Jaddu was experiencing some back pain, Ashwin—a talented spinner—entered the game. Along with the other pacers Shardul, Siraj, and Bumrah, Prasidh is making his debut,” he said.</p>
<p>The South African playing eleven are Temba Bavuma (c), Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (w), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, and Nandre Burger.</p>
<p>The following players are in the India playing XI: KL Rahul (w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer.</p>
