Indian cricket team star batter Virat Kohli opted out of the first two Test matches against England citing ‘personal reasons’ and according to a report by Times Of India, there is no clarity on his possible return for the remaining three matches. In the report, a BCCI official was quoted as saying that they have not heard anything from Kohli regarding his possible return to the India squad. “We haven’t heard anything from him on his return as yet,” a BCCI official told TOI on the condition of anonymity.
Besides Kohli, India will also be missing KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja after they were ruled out of the second Test match starting February 2 due to injury concerns. While Jadeja suffered a hamstring injury, Rahul injured his thigh during the first Test match that India lost against England.
According to the report, Rahul seems likely to return to the squad later in the series but Jadeja’s injury is ‘more serious’ and it can end up ruling him out for the remaining four matches.
“Rahul could perhaps return later in this series, but Jadeja’s injury could be more serious. Let’s see what the NCA’s medical team tells us,” the BCCI official further stated in the report.
Sarfaraz Khan, Saurabh Kumar and Washington Sundar have been added to India’s squad, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.
“Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during play on Day Four of the first Test in Hyderabad while Rahul complained of a right quadriceps pain,” the BCCI said.
The BCCI said its medics are “monitoring the progress of the duo”.
India Test squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, K.S. Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, Saurabh Kumar.
(With AFP inputs)
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