SA vs IND 2018 : India Sweats On Shikhar Dhawan's Fitness Ahead Of Series-Opener

Ahead of the much-awaited Test series against South Africa, an injury to in-form Shikhar Dhawan would have surely been the last setback India would have wanted. The southpaw’s participation in the first Test, scheduled to start on January 5 in Capetown after he had injured his ankle just before the team’s departure for South Africa.

Shikhar Dhawan has already missed the team’s first training session which took place at the picturesque Western Province Cricket Club on Saturday (December 30). But the opening batsman has now started his recovery process as Hindustan Times has reported the 32-year old, on Sunday (December 31), was seen limbering up.

The report claimed that Patrick Farhart, the Indian physio, was guiding Dhawan through a few yards of jogging at the ground before the opener went back to the massage table for more treatment. Meanwhile, Team India was confined to indoor training for the better part of Sunday due to rain.

If Shikhar Dhawan is rendered unfit for the first Test, then in-form KL Rahul is expected to open the batting with the in-form Murali Vijay. Rahul, who was a guaranteed name in the playing eleven not very long ago, has fallen down the pecking order after Murali Vijay’s sensational return to Test cricket and Dhawan’s brilliant form.

India, meanwhile, will be looking to start the Test series on a strong note. India’s record in South Africa has been dismal so far. Since 1992 when India first toured the African country for the first time, they have won just two of the 17 Tests they have played in South Africa. Of the six-Test series in South Africa, the Proteas have won five with a 1-1 drawback in the 2010-11 season being India’s best return.

But the current side, which has registered a record nine consecutive series wins and is yet to lose a series under Kohli, has been widely tipped to end India’s long wait for a Test series win in the rainbow nation.