Tushar Virat Kohli isn’t playing in the ongoing Test series against England. Initially, he was part of the squad announced for the first two Test matches. However, he later requested personal leave from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and decided to sit out the first two Tests.
Speculation Over Virat’s Return for India vs England 5th Test
There was a lot of talk leading up to the squad announcement for the final three Test matches about whether Virat would make a comeback. However, Virat decided to extend his break and opted out of the remaining three Test matches as well. He recently became a father for the second time, with Anushka Sharma giving birth to their son, Akaay Kohli, on February 15. The fourth Test match of the series is scheduled to take place in Ranchi starting from February 23, and it seems unlikely that Virat will return for this match. However, there are now reports suggesting that he might return for the fifth Test match. The series finale is set for Dharamshala, starting from March 7. The question on everyone’s mind now is whether Virat Kohli will be back in the team for the Dharamshala Test match.
The announcement for the squad in the final three Test matches has been made, and Virat has made the call to step away from the remainder of the series. This makes his comeback for the Dharamshala Test match seem quite improbable. According to media reports, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are currently in London, where they welcomed their son, Akaay Kohli. Regarding Virat’s absence, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah mentioned that Virat isn’t the type of player to take leave without a valid reason.
Jay Shah’s Support for Players’ Decisions
Jay Shah highlighted the importance of respecting players’ decisions, especially when it comes to personal time off during their extensive careers, which can span up to 15 years. He stressed the need for supporting players in such matters.
Bumrah’s Rest and Rahul’s Injury
Jasprit Bumrah has been given a break for the Ranchi Test match, likely as a measure to manage his workload and keep him fresh. Meanwhile, KL Rahul is still recovering from an injury sustained in the first Test match, which has sidelined him for the subsequent matches as well. Unfortunately, he won’t be available for the fourth Test either. This injury has kept him out of action since the second Test. As of now, India leads the series 2-1.
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