Virat Kohli says there will be a late decision on his fitness for the final Test
Friday 24 March 2017 09:10, UK
India captain Virat Kohli faces a fitness check ahead of the fourth and final Test against Australia after injuring his shoulder in the previous match.
The series is finely poised at 1-1 ahead of the Dharamsala encounter but Kohli is a doubt, having damaged his right shoulder when diving to save a boundary on the first day of the drawn third Test in Ranchi.
Kohli did bat in the nets on Friday but looked downcast when he discussed whether he will be able to play in the winner-take-all encounter, which starts on Saturday.
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"The physio wants to give it a bit more time till I can test myself," he said. "We'll probably take a call on it later tonight or tomorrow, before the game.
"You want to be fit for the game 100 percent but sometimes you have to respect the fact that these things are part of your career as well.
"These things are bound to happen. You might be very, very fit but an impact injury is an impact injury.
"I have to accept that fact and try to get 100 per cent fit for the game.
"Obviously if I am 100 per cent fit, is the only condition on which I will take the field.
"I don't know the magnitude of the risk but all I know is the fitness tests. If I go through them, I will take the field."
Uncapped Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer flew in on Friday as cover for Kohli who has been unusually subdued in the series so far, managing 46 runs in five innings.
And Kohli was confident the India team can do well, even if he has to sit out the match.
"If not, I'm sure the guys will take it as an opportunity to still take the team ahead," he said.
"Me playing or not playing should not be so much of a difference to the other 10 guys.
"I've not done anything special so far but still the guys have fought it out. That shows why we are the number one team in the world."
Watch the fourth and final Test between India and Australia live from 3.50am on Saturday on Sky Sports 2.
