Kohli to skip first two Tests against England for ‘personal reasons’،
Virat Kohli has pulled out of India's first two Tests against England due to personal reasons, the BCCI said on Monday, adding that a replacement for Kohli would be named soon.
“Virat spoke to captain Rohit Sharma, team management and selectors and highlighted that while representing the country has always been his top priority, there are certain personal situations that require his presence and full attention,” indicated the board of directors in a press release.
Kohli reached Hyderabad, venue of the first of the five Tests, on Sunday but did not attend India's optional training session on Monday.
Kohli played India's last Test series – the 1-1 draw in South Africa – then missed the first T20I at home against Afghanistan due to personal reasons before returning for the final two matches of the series.
While Kohli was rested for the white-ball matches in South Africa, he had returned to India and missed the three-day intra-squad preparatory match before the two Tests there.
The BCCI is yet to name a replacement but the favorites include Cheteshwar Pujara, Rajat Patidar, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sarfaraz Khan.
Pujara last played for India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final last year, but began this year's Ranji Trophy with an unbeaten double century against Jharkhand before scoring three scores in the 40s and a half-century in his next two matches.
Both Patidar and Sarfaraz played and impressed for India A against the touring England Lions. Patidar blazed centuries in the tour match against them and the first unofficial Test, while Sarfaraz scored half-centuries in both matches, including 96 in the tour match.
Abhimanyu had replaced the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad as India's reserve opener for the South Africa Tests and is currently India A captain.
Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill are the other middle-order hitters in the Indian team, while KL Rahul is also available to play as a pure hitter if required – Rahul, KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel are the contenders for the keeper position counter.
Kohli became the second player in as many days to withdraw from all or part of the series, after Harry Brook pulled out of the entire tour on Sunday, also due to personal reasons. However, it is understood that he will be able to join the England tour at a later date.
The five-match series against England will begin in Hyderabad on January 25 and will be part of the WTC. India is currently second in the WTC points table, behind defending champions Australia.
