"Virat Kohli is not that kind of a player.." - Jay Shah reveals why Virat Kohli isn't playing the Test series vs England

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah defended senior batter Virat Kohli’s decision to miss the ongoing five-match series against England. Jay Shah said that Virat Kohli has the right to request personal leave after 15 years of dedicated service.

Virat Kohli withdrew from the first two matches and extended his leave for the entire series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed his absence without specifying the reason. BCCI has urged both fans and the media to respect Kohli’s privacy during this time.

Former South African skipper AB de Villiers initially stated that Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma were expecting their second child. However, De Villiers, who played with Virat for RCB in the IPL, later retracted his statement and apologized for the misinformation.

Also Read: Not Rajat Patidar!! Former Indian cricketer names the best replacement team India could’ve had for Virat Kohli

“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,” a statement from the board said before the series.

“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 statement added.

Rajat Patidar was drafted in as cover for the first two Tests in place of the absent Virat Kohli. KL Rahul batted at No. 4 in the first game but was sidelined due to injury for the Visakhapatnam match, leading to Patidar’s debut for India in the longer format of the game.

Virat Kohli Will Remain Unavailable For Selection – BCCI

“Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons. The Board fully respects and supports Mr. Kohli’s decision.”

Also Read: Jay Shah reminds IPL franchises that BCCI is still the boss of Indian cricket

We Must Back And Trust Our Players – Jay Shah

During an interaction with the media at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium renaming event, BCCI secretary Jay Shah extended his support to Virat Kohli, emphasizing the importance of respecting players’ personal decisions.

“If somebody is asking for a personal leave in 15 years then it is his right to ask for it. Virat is not that kind of a player that he would ask for a leave without any reason. We must back and trust our players,” Jay Shah said.

Virat Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies in Jamaica in 2011. The right-handed batsman represented the national team in 113 Test matches and led the team for an extended period. Notably, it was the first time he missed an entire Test series.

The 35-year-old batter is expected to return to action for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The Delhi-born cricketer will represent the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The upcoming tournament will provide valuable preparation for the T20 World Cup 2024.

Also read: Babar Azam’s most trusted deputy ditches him to name Virat Kohli the best player in the world