India will be without Virat Kohli for the start of its upcoming Test series against England after the superstar batter withdrew from the first two matches due to personal reasons.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India will name a replacement soon with the opening Test of the five-match series starting Thursday in Hyderabad.
“Virat has spoken to Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management and the selectors and has emphasised that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention,” BCCI said in statement.
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“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 statement added: “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.”
It comes 24 hours after emerging star batter Harry Brook returned home to England due to personal reasons.
Kohli, who amassed 765 runs in 11 ODI World Cup matches for runners-up India last year, missed the white-ball leg of the South African tour in 2023 and the opening T20 match against Afghanistan at home recently.
India have remained unbeaten in a Test series at home since 2012 when Alastair Cook’s touring England team beat the hosts 2-1.
Ben Stokes’ England have landed in Hyderabad after holding a training camp — but emerging spinner Shoaib Bashir remains in Abu Dhabi after delays to his visa to enter India.
Bashir was born in Surrey to parents of Pakistani heritage.
England coach Brendon McCullum said the ECB had escalated the matter with the relevant authorities.
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“Bash will join us hopefully tomorrow as well,” McCullum told reporters. “He’s got a couple of issues with his visa coming through. We’re confident on the back of the help from the BCCI and the Indian government that will sort itself out pretty quickly as well.
“Things take time, don’t they? Everyone is doing what they can. It’s a process we need to go through. We’re pretty confident that we’re close. The time that Bash had with the squad over in Abu Dhabi, where he fitted in seamlessly, will serve him greatly.
“We’ve also got a little bit of support out there for him so he’s not on his own. We’re hoping the news will come through today that his visa has been approved, then we’ll get him to sink his teeth into this series.”
— AFP
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