Ahead of the second Test against South Africa, Team India head coach Rahul Dravid explained the reason for skipper Virat Kohli’s absence from press conferences. Kohli will interact with the press ahead of his 100th match in the longest version of the game, Dravid said. To date, the Indian Test captain has appeared in 98 Tests.

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When asked about Kohli’s absence from the pre-match news conference, Dravid responded, “There is no specific reason for that (on Kohli skipping). I don’t decide this but I am told he will be speaking on the eve of his 100th Test and we hope you celebrate that. And you can ask him questions about his 100th Test.”

Team India will take on South Africa in the second Test on Monday in Johannesburg. In the upcoming face-off, Dravid believes that batting late in the game will be difficult.

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“Haven’t looked much at the weather. The pitch looks good like a typical Wanderers wickets, might flatten out a bit. Batting could get tough towards the end. Generally a result wicket at the Wanderers. It’s a quicker pitch but maybe the bounce is not as it has been at Centurion,” said Dravid.

Kohli is also expected to have some “huge runs” in the next Tests against South Africa, according to Dravid.

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Kohli failed to get a century in international cricket in 2021 when he was dismissed for 18 in the first innings of the first Test against South Africa on Wednesday.

Kohli too failed to achieve the triple-digit milestone in 2020. In the day-night Test against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens in 2019, the Indian captain last struck a century.

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“In keeping the morale high (in South Africa) it has not been difficult as it has been led by the skipper himself. Virat Kohli has been phenomenal over the last 20 days, the way he has trained he has practised,” said Dravid.

“I couldn’t speak highly of him the way he is committed to his own preparation. And also with the way he has connected himself with the group on and off the field. Even though he batted and couldn’t convert those starts I really feel there will be a big run of scores once he clicks in,” he added.