Indian batsman Virat Kohli will be sidelined for the remainder of his nation’s Test series against England due to personal reasons.
The 35-year-old cricketer was notably absent from the first two matches, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) citing “personal situations requiring his presence and undivided attention” as the reason for his absence.
In a recent update, the BCCI has reiterated that Kohli will continue to be unavailable for the remaining three matches of the series.
It read: “Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons.
“The Board fully respects and supports Mr. Kohli’s decision.”
🚨 NEWS 🚨#TeamIndia‘s Squad for final three Tests against England announced.
Details 🔽 #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBankhttps://t.co/JPXnyD4WBK
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 10, 2024
Kohli has played 113 Tests for his country and his tally of 8,848 runs places him fourth in the list of India’s all-time leading scorers in the format.
The Test series between India and England is currently tied at 1-1, with the tourists securing a remarkable 28-run victory in Hyderabad, only to be countered by a 106-run triumph for the home team in Visakhapatnam.
With the series finely balanced, all eyes are now on the third Test scheduled to commence on Thursday, February 15, in Rajkot. Following this, the fourth Test will be held in Ranchi starting from Friday, February 23, with the final encounter set to take place in Dharamshala commencing on Thursday, March 7.
In an official announcement, India confirmed the return of star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and key batter KL Rahul to the squad after they missed the second Test, provided they are deemed fit. However, Shreyas Iyer, who featured in both of the initial matches, has been omitted from the squad for the remainder of the series.
Furthermore, uncapped seam bowler Akash Deep has earned his maiden call-up to the national team, adding a fresh dimension to India’s bowling arsenal for the upcoming matches.