SA vs IND: India head coach Rahul Dravid hails Virat Kohli ahead of first Test

Newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team Rahul Dravid has lavished praise on India's Test skipper Virat Kohli ahead of the series against South Africa, scheduled to kick-off in Centurion.

During the Boxing day Test, Virat Kohli will be the center of attention amid all the rifts and controversies between him and the BCCI regarding his removal from India's ODI and T20I captaincy.

"We [India] want to keep improving, and Virat Kohli has played a huge role in that. He has been fantastic as a captain and leader. Virat is one of those people who loves Test cricket," Dravid said in a virtual press conference, according to India Today. 

Dravid also stressed the importance of the series against South Africa as the three matches of the Test series are part of the World Test Championship.

"From a Test team's perspective, there are series to win. The series against South Africa is our first real challenge away from home. In the larger scheme of things, it counts for WTC points, and that is something you have to keep in your mind in the long term," he said.

India have had success in England and Australia, but they still have to win a series in South Africa, which remains a big challenge for India and Kohli.

The Boxing day Test will start at 1 pm (PST) at the SuperSports Park Stadium.