NEW DELHI, Aug 5: India coach Gary Kirsten will leave the team’s Sri Lanka tour on Tuesday to visit his critically ill mother in his native South Africa, the Indian cricket board has said.

Kirsten has been granted leave of absence to miss the deciding third Test starting in Colombo on Friday, the BCCI said.

Kirsten helped India rally to an emphatic win in the second Test in Galle last week after suffering an innings defeat in the first game and could miss his services in the decider.

He would fly home later on Tuesday.—Reuters