File photo of Indian cricket team star Virat Kohli© X (formerly Twitter)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Monday that star batter Virat Kohli has opted out of the first two Test matches against England citing ‘personal reasons’. In an official statement, BCCI said that Kohli had conversations with skipper Rohit Sharma and the team management regarding his absence and extended their support to the cricketer. “Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming Test series against England, citing personal reasons,” BCCI said in their official statement.
“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 statement further read.
Kohli missed the first T20I match against Afghanistan due to ‘personal reasons’ and earlier, he also missed an intra-squad match in South Africa as he had to fly to London.
The BCCI statement also asked the media to refrain from ‘speculating on the nature of his personal reasons’ and said that Kohli’s replacement will be announced in the coming days.
“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 concluded.
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