Last Updated on 5 years ago by Charbel Coorey
Virat Kohli to leave Australia after 1st Test to attend birth of first child | BCCI grants India captain Virat Kohli leave to be with wife who is due to give birth
Virat Kohli, the Indian captain and one of the world’s finest batsmen, will leave Australia after the first Test. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Kohli has been granted paternity leave as his wife, Anushkha Sharma, is due to give birth to their first child in January.
Kohli had originally informed the BCCI of his plans to return to India, before the BCCI confirmed the details.
“At the selection committee meeting held on October 26th, 2020, Mr Virat Kohli had informed the BCCI about his plans to return to India after the first Test in Adelaide. The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first Test against Australia in Adelaide,” read the statement on the BCCI website.
Kohli will participate in Adelaide, which will be a day/night Test that kicks off the four-match blockbuster series. India will be hoping that Kohli leaves a mark on the series at a ground where he has enjoyed success at in the past. Much will now rest on Cheteshwar Pujara, who was superb in Australia two years ago, as well as the experienced and arguably under-appreciated Ajinkya Rahane.
With the news that Kohli will depart after the first Test, India have added Rohit Sharma to the Test squad. Rohit’s fitness has been subject to back-and-forth between Sourav Ganguly and Mumbai Indians, after Rohit played against Sunrisers Hyderabad last week, merely hours after the BCCI President said that Rohit is at risk of re-injuring his hamstring. Rohit has since confirmed his hamstring is “absolutely fine”, but he has been rested from the ODIs and T20Is.
“The BCCI Medical Team has been monitoring Rohit Sharma’s fitness and has briefed All-India Senior Selection Committee on the same. In consultation with Mr Sharma, it has been decided to rest him for the ODIs and T20Is in Australia to regain full fitness and he has been included in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” read the statement on the BCCI website.
In other news regarding India’s Test squad, Ishant Sharma’s fitness is also being monitored. “The senior Indian fast bowler has been undergoing his rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Once he fully recovers and gains sufficient match fitness, he will be added to India’s Test squad,” confirmed the BCCI.
