Virat Kohli decided to withdraw from the first two matches of Test series against England for personal reasons. The announcement came out a couple of days ahead of the first Test match on 25 January. BCCI already released statement on that.
As Virat Kohli is the backbone of India’s batting, his decision to withdraw from the first two test matches against England is like a big jolt for the Indian Cricket Team and fans. Earlier, Kohli missed the practice match before the South Africa Tests in December and then the 1st T20 match against Afghanistan in January.
A BCCI statement said, “Virat has spoken to Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management, and the selectors and has emphasized that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention.”
“The BCCI respects his decision and the Board and team management has extended its support to the star batter and is confident in the abilities of the remaining squad members to step up and deliver commendable performances in the Test series.”
“The BCCI requests the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli’s privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons. The focus should remain on supporting the Indian cricket team as they embark on the upcoming challenges in the Test series,” the statement added.