Quinton de Kock doubtful for the first India Test: Reports

What's the story?

South Africa are facing an injury scare ahead of the Test series against India as wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock is a doubtful starter for the first Test that begins at the Newlands in Cape Town on January 5.

The Protea gloveman injured his hamstring while batting during the four-day Test against Zimbabwe and has not taken the field since. According to News 18, de Kock underwent scans last night, with result revealing that he had strained his right hamstring.

In case you didn't know...

De Kock felt some discomfort while batting on the opening day of the Test in Port Elizabeth. He suffered the injury when he was running between the wickets during his brief stay at the crease and did not come out to take his place behind the stumps later in the game.

Instead, stand-in captain AB de Villiers kept wickets for the hosts.

The details

South Africa's regular skipper Faf du Plessis and pacer Dale Steyn, who is returning to international cricket after one year, missed the historic Test against their African rivals due to a bout of flu and viral infection respectively.

De Villiers, who last played a Test match in 2015, came back into the side and was forced to double up as a captain and a wicketkeeper, things he didn't want to do in the past.

What's next?

The Indian team has left for South Africa to take part in a three-match Test series that starts on January 5 in Cape Town following which the teams will travel to Centurion and Johannesburg for the second and third match.

After the Test series, the two teams will play a six-match ODI series and a three-match T20I series before the Indian team flies back home.

Author's take

De Kock's absence was hardly felt against Zimbabwe, but his presence will be a big boost for his team in the Test series against India as he is someone who has scored runs for them consistently down the order, and du Plessis loves batting against the Men in Blue.

South Africa will monitor his fitness keenly and in all likelihood, he might feature in the starting XI for the first Test in spite of the reports suggesting that he is doubtful.