Father-to-be Virat Kohli Likely To Miss Last Two Tests In Australia: Report

Team India could miss the services of their skipper Virat Kohli for the last two Tests of the upcoming blockbuster series in Australia. The India batting star is awaiting the birth of his first child in January and could skip the last two games of the four-match series.

India are scheduled to tour Australia for three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests. Team India will leave for Australia on November 12, just two days after the end of the ongoing IPL 2020. The ODI series will kickstart the tour on November 27. It will be followed by the T20Is before the Tests start from December 17.

While Virat Kohli is available to play all the ODIs, T20Is and the first two Tests, there are doubts over his participation on the last two Tests of the series. Anushka Sharma is due to give birth to the couple’s first child in early January and Virat Kohli is likely to be with his wife during that period.

An official word on the India skipper’s itinerary is not yet out. However, a BCCI source has stated that Virat Kohli can be expected to take paternity leave after the first two Tests of the series.

“The BCCI has always believed that family is priority. In case, the skipper decides on availing paternity break, he will then be available only for the first two Test matches,” the senior source told PTI.

The four Test matches will be held in Adelaide (D/N, December 17-21), Melbourne (December 26-30), Sydney (January 7-11, 2021) and Brisbane (January 15-19). The source further stated that Kohli could have returned to play the fourth game in normal circumstances but the ongoing pandemic will prevent him from doing so in the upcoming series.

“Look, in normal times, he could have flown back for the birth of his first born, missed a Test and played the final one in Brisbane. However, if the 14-day quarantine is still in place, it will be difficult to go and come back again,” the source added.

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