Virat Kohli Might Be Rested For Afghanistan Test: Reports

India skipper, Virat Kohli, might be rested for the Test match against Afghanistan, which will be played from June 14 to 18 in Bangalore.

As per a report in TOI, BCCI might field a second string side so as to keep players fit and fine for the ardent tour of England.  Team India will fly to Ireland and then England in the month of June.

On June 27 and 29, India will play two T20Is against Ireland.

From there, India will go to England to play the limited-overs series first.

A five-match Test series will follow.

The basic idea behind fielding a second string side is to keep players fresh for the tour.

Afghanistan, along with Ireland, was given the full nation status last year, which allowed them to play Test cricket.

They had earlier planned to play their inaugural Test against Australia but they decided to open their campaign against India.

This further strengthened the ties between the two cricket associations.

However, if BCCI would not field a strong team, this might disappoint Afghanistan Cricket Association.

After this Test match, India have an uphill task to post a series win against England, which the team has failed to do in past two series (in England).

This will be the first time when Virat Kohli will lead the team in England – with an aim to turn the fortunes of the team.

On the last tour of the country, India managed to draw the first Test and win the second game,

However, the MS Dhoni-led side faced defeated in next three Test matches, with two defeats coming by an innings margin.

In 2011, England did not give any chance to India and defeated MS Dhoni-led side in all the four Tests.

India failed to win even a single game on the tour, including the limited-overs contests.

On the personal front, Virat Kohli too has an uphill task.

On the previous tour, he could just manage 134 runs in five Test matches in 10 innings at an average of 13.40.

With England conditions considered to be a barometer of success for any player, Kohli will surely have pressure to do well on the tour.

Also, the long tour will be sort of preparations for the World Cup 2019 too, which will be played in England.

Team India did well in the Champions Trophy but now, it has a new spin bowling combination in ODI cricket, which is yet to play in England.

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