Virat Kohli has a “genuine reason” for his leave, says the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah.
Ahead of the third Test between India and England in Rajkot, Jay Shah spoke to the media at the event where the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium was renamed as the Niranjan Shah Stadium. The Indian cricket team was present at the event, too, where Shah also confirmed that Rohit Sharma will lead India in the T20 World Cup in June.
Talking about the current series against England, it is the first time in his Test career that Virat Kohli will miss an entire Test series, and that is not due to fitness or form reasons, but because of a family emergency for which he is reportedly in London.
There is no issue with Virat Kohli: Jay Shah
Last month, Virat Kohli had landed in Hyderabad to prepare ahead of the first Test, but three days before the game, he left. The board announced that Kohli had pulled out from the first two Tests, citing personal reasons, and now the 35-year-old has pulled out from the last three Tests as well.
In his comment on Wednesday, Jay Shah said that Kohli has the right to take a leave for a “genuine reason,” especially after serving Indian cricket for the past 15 years. Shah reiterated BCCI’s statement that the former India captain has the board’s support.
“There is no issue with Virat. In a 15-year cricketing career, if one asks for leave for one series that is his right. Virat is not a player who will take leave without a genuine reason. We need to back and trust our players,” Jay Shah said.
Kohli is reported to make his return straightaway in the IPL next month, which is still five weeks away.
Meanwhile, Shah announced that Rohit Sharma will remain India’s all-format captain and will lead the side in the T20 World Cup in June, while Hardik Pandya will be his deputy.
“I have not made any comments about the 2023 World Cup, in which we lost the final in Ahmedabad. However, I can assure you that India will clinch the T20 World Cup in Barbados on June 29 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy,” Shah said.
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