Stiff back forces Kohli out, Rohit leads India in T20 decider

Rohit Sharma will lead the side as the stand-in captain for the series deciding T20I.

Virat Kohli is suffering from a stiff back, leading to his omission from the playing XI in the third T20I at Cape Town.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli was rested for the third and final T20I against host South Africa at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, owing to a stiff back. Rohit Sharma will lead the side as the as the stand-in captain for the series deciding T20I.

“Virat has a stiff back and he needs some rest. It has been a long season for him and unfortunately he misses out but gives someone else a chance to step up. A few changes - Dinesh in place of Virat, Axar Patel in place of Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah comes in place of Jaydev Unadkat.

"Looks like there is a fair bit of grass, dry though, there'll be a bit of carry and that's the reason we are playing with four seamers. But as JP (Duminy) said it isn't going to change a lot and should be a good forty overs. Good to have the last game as a decider for the spectators,” said Rohit during the toss.

Meanwhile, South Africa skipper J.P. Duminy won the toss and elected to bowl first, as the side has a couple of changes in the form of Christiaan Jonker and Aaron Phangiso, who come in for JJ Smuts and Dane Patterson.