It seems that team management’s patience with Rishabh Pant is over as the news of him been dropped from the Test XI for South Africa comes days after India head coach Ravi Shastri had said he'll back Pant to the hilt.
Speaking at the press conference, skipper Kohli also confirmed Rohit Sharma will bat as opener, saying that the team management is no hurry with Rohit and he’ll be given enough time to find his form in the longest format.
"We are in no hurry with Rohit Sharma as opener. He will be given time and space to find his rhythm and the way he wants to play at the top," said Kohli.
Wriddhiman Saha lost his place in test squad due to injury but Rishabh Pant never really earned ‘the spot’. Saha was left out of the Indian side for five months after he underwent a shoulder surgery in June which kept him away from cricketing action.
Having completed his rehabilitation programme, Saha turned up for Bengal in Ranji Trophy where he performed brilliantly on the back of which he was picked for India’s away tour vs West Indies but was benched the entire series.
Kohli also confirmed that the Indian team will play two spinners in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Veteran off-spinner Ashwin marks his comeback after missing out on the two-match Test series against Windies.