India's captain Virat Kohli holds his shoulder after he was injured.

Kohli hurt his right shoulder while fielding on Thursday and went off in the afternoon session on the opening day, leaving vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane to lead the side in his absence.

Local reports are suggesting Kohli has a ligament tear in his shoulder and will not take the field or bat today in Ranchi, according to News Corp Australia’s Ben Horne.

India's captain Virat Kohli reacts after he was injured while fielding.Source:AFP

The Daily Telegraph reports the doctor who administered Kohli’s scans at a Ranchi hospital revealed a dire prognosis to the local media.

“He (Virat) has suffered an injury in his right shoulder,” said the doctor.

“While the bones are intact, there is a ligament tear and he was having acute problems in hand movement. We have advised 15-20 days’ rest.”

That assessment was in stark contrast to India’s cricket board, who later said Kohli would be able to play in the match after scans revealed no “serious injury concerns” for their star batsman.

“He will continue to receive treatment, which will assist him to participate in the rest of the match,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement on Thursday night.

Although the 28-year-old was seen on Friday morning sitting inside the dressing room with his shoulder heavily strapped, a member of India’s team management told AFP that Kohli would bat in what is a crucial Test.

The four-match series between the world’s top two sides is tantalisingly poised at 1-1 with India needing at least a draw to have any chance of winning back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The good news continued for Australia early on day two in Ranchi.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell raises his bat and helmet to celebrate scoring a century.Source:AP

Glenn Maxwell posted his maiden Test ton early on day two, giving the greatest indication yet he is ready to make the leap from Twenty20 sensation to Test cricketer. Maxwell finished 82 not out at stumps on Thursday’s opening day of the third Test between Australia and India in Ranchi.

The all-rounder, playing his first Test since 2014, had some nervous moments in the 90s but reached three figures early on day two with a cut shot.

— with AAP