Virat Kohli to miss an entire Test series for the first time in his career

Virat Kohli informed the selectors about his unavailability for the entire Test series against England on Friday and it will be the first time in his career of 13 years that he will be missing an entire Test series.

He made his Test debut back in 2011 and since then he has been the most consistent member of the Indian Test side and has played 113 Tests for India. The reason cited by him for missing the series is personal and cannot be disclosed for now.

BCCI urged the fans and media houses to stop speculating about the reasons behind his unavailability and asked them to respect his privacy. Virat Kohli has been one of the few cricketers who have reached the No.1 ranking in all three formats of the game.

He was also India’s top scorer in the last Test series that India played against South Africa in tough away conditions.  The Indian team will miss the services of Virat Kohli in the ongoing Test series against England.

Virat Kohli was the captain of the Test team when England toured India in 2016 and 2021. He led the side to victory in both the series and was also the top run-scorer in the series in 2016 where he amassed 655 runs in eight innings across the five-match series at an average of 109.17.

He smashed two centuries and two half-centuries which included a double-century in the Test series against England in 2016. In 2021 he was rather silent with the bat failing to score a single century in the four-match series.

Virat Kohli initially opted out of the first two Tests against England but now has drawn his name out for the rest of the series which is a big blow for the Indian team given his recent form. Team India will certainly miss the service of Virat Kohli and it shows how dedicated he is to his game that in 13 years, this is the first time he has missed a Test series.

Virat Kohli Will Be Missing A Test Series In His Career For The First Time

Virat Kohli will miss an entire series for the first time in his 13 year old Test career. pic.twitter.com/domo84E9JB

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 10, 2024

The numbers for Virat Kohli against England in Tests speak for themselves. He has amassed 1991 runs in 50 innings across 28 Tests against England in the Tests at an average of 42.36 including nine half-centuries and five centuries.

He is a great threat for any team, especially in home conditions and his absence in this series also affects his records as he missed out on a great opportunity to get to 30 centuries in Test cricket.

Amongst the members of the Fab 4 consisting of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root, only Virat has not reached the 30-centuries landmark in Test cricket. He has smashed 29 centuries in Test cricket and is just one ton away from reaching the landmark.

India and England will play the third Test of the five-match series at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. The series is currently levelled at 1-1 with the hosts losing the first Test in Hyderabad by 28 runs but then making a strong comeback in the second Test in Vizag, winning it by 106 runs.