India captain Virat Kohli should be fit to play the third Test against South Africa, stand-in skipper KL Rahul said on Thursday. Kohli was ruled out of the second Test in Johannesburg just before the start of play on Day 1 with a spasm in his upper back.

“Virat is feeling better already, been in the nets the last couple of days fielding and running around and I think he should be fine,” Rahul said in the post-match presentation ceremony. India lost the second Test by seven wickets with South Africa skipper leading the hosts to a target of 240 with an unbeaten 96 off 188 balls.

Rahul, however, said that fast bowler Mohammed Siraj will be monitored after his participation in the second Test was curtailed by a hamstring injury he sustained early in the South African first innings.

“With Siraj, we need to monitor him in the nets. It’s tough to come back immediately from a hamstring issue, but we do have a good bench strength in the form of Umesh and Ishant. We expected this when we came here, every Test will be competitive and challenging, we’ll be more hungrier after this disappointing loss,” said Rahul.

India are chasing a first-ever Test series win in South Africa and started off by recording their first ever win in Centurion. However, South Africa have hit back by beating India for the first time in a Test match at the Wanderers.