Virat Kohli's Absence Confirmed for 3rd and 4th Tests Against England, Participation in 5th Test in Dharamsala Remains Uncertain

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is expected to prolong his absence from the ongoing five-match Test series against England. Reports suggest that Kohli will continue to be unavailable for the upcoming third and fourth Test matches against the English team due to personal reasons.

Kohli’s most recent on-field appearance was during the third T20I against Afghanistan in Bengaluru, where he was dismissed for a golden duck. He had also missed the first Afghanistan match due to personal reasons. In the second T20I match, he scored 29 runs.

Virat Kohli Poised to Sit Out Rest of England Series

As per an ESPNCricinfo report, selectors are unlikely to enlist Virat Kohli for the upcoming Tests against England scheduled in Rajkot and Ranchi. Furthermore, it is anticipated that Kohli will not be part of the fifth and final Test match in Dharamsala.

On January 22, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a statement revealing that Kohli had opted out of the first two Tests due to personal reasons. It is noteworthy that Kohli joined the Indian team before his departure on the same day.

The BCCI appealed to fans to honor Virat Kohli’s privacy during his absence from the team. Following the release of this statement, the BCCI has refrained from offering additional remarks on Kohli’s circumstances.

“Virat has communicated with Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management, and the selectors, underscoring that while representing the country remains his foremost priority, certain personal matters necessitate his immediate and undivided attention,” the BCCI’s statement from two weeks ago stated.

Nasser Hussain Emphasizes the Priority of Virat Kohli’s Personal Life

Former England cricket captain Nasser Hussain acknowledged Virat Kohli’s absence from the next two Tests as a significant setback for India. Hussain emphasized Kohli’s need to prioritize his personal life after years of relentless cricket.

“But Kohli and his family and his private life have to come first, so it’s a blow for India, but as we’ve seen, they’ve got a lot of very good young batters. But KL Rahul, who was injured for the last game, played brilliantly in the last few months for India and in all formats. I think he’ll come back in, so he’ll add to their batting,” Hussain stated.

The 35-year-old boasts a formidable record against England, accumulating 1991 runs in 28 Tests with an average of 42.36, including five centuries and nine fifties. In home Tests, he scored 1015 runs in 13 matches at an average of 56.38, achieving a top score of 235.

India Scheduled to Encounter England in Third Test on February 15th

Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul were absent from the second Test in Vishakapatnam, undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Despite these initial setbacks, Team India managed to clinch a crucial victory in the second Test, evening the series at 1-1.

The forthcoming third Test between India and England is scheduled to begin at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Thursday, February 15. The home team is looking to field a full-strength playing XI and remains hopeful for the recovery of injured players.

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