Confusion Looms Over Virat Kohli's Availability for Ireland T20I's

The national selection committee’s decision to include Virat Kohli in the squad for the two-match T20I series against Ireland has created quite a confusion.

The India skipper did not get named on the sheet for the one-off Test against Afghanistan due to his county stint with Surrey.

The 29-year old will be plying his trade for Surrey for the entire month of June. But while he will miss the Afghanistan Test, he will be donning the national jersey when India takes on Ireland on June 27 and 29.

Kohli is scheduled to play his last county match for Surrey against Yorkshire at Scarborough from June 25 to 28. And not surprisingly, his inclusion in the squad has caused quite a stir.

Surrey, in their statement, had made it clear that Kohli will play for them during the entire month of June.

“India captain Virat Kohli will play for Surrey during the entire month of June,” the statement read.

MSK Prasad, chairman of selectors, refused to make any comment on the confusion.

“Kindly talk to the BCCI secretary on this issue,” he told PTI.

Amitabh Choudhary, the BCCI acting secretary, on the other hand, said that the matter is under control.

“Be rest assured, everything is fine,” he said.

But despite the assurance, there is still no clarity over the whole matter. It will be interesting to see whether Kohli skips the final county game for the T20s, as he gets to play only three four-day matches.

“If the selectors have picked him for the Ireland T20s despite the county dates being available, it means that he will not play the game against Yorkshire. This cannot be a unilateral decision as the county contracts has been inked after much deliberation. Playing against Ireland means that he will get only two county games.

“It will be very interesting to know why has there been a change in Virat’s schedule if England Tests are paramount,” said a senior BCCI official.

Moreover, there are also doubts over whether Surrey would allow Kohli to play against Ireland.

Meanwhile, Kohli will be desperate to make amends for his horror show on the last England tour in 2014.

The batting star would be desperate to do well in England this time around. Last time, India had visited England, Kohli had endured a disastrous outing.

India lost the series 3-1, and Kohli was one of the worst performers. He averaged just 13.40 in ten innings with a top score of 39.