The earlier claims by ex-South Africa player AB de Villiers, saying Virat Kohli is taking a longer break from cricket, were shared on his YouTube channel. He now says they are entirely false.
AB De Villiers shared previously about Kohli awaiting his second child’s arrival. This explains his absence from the initial two Test matches with England for Team India. Kohli, the ex-captain of India, might not be part of the remaining home series too, owing to personal grounds. He hasn’t spilled any specifics about his sudden pullout from the team yet.
AB de Villiers wishes the best for Virat Kohli and his family and wants to see his old franchise teammate back to the field as soon as possible.
“Family comes first, it’s priority, as I said on my YouTube channel. Also, made a terrible mistake at the same time, sharing false information which was not true at all. I just think whatever is best for Virat and his family comes first”, De Villiers told Dainik Bhaskar on the sidelines of the ongoing SA 2024 tournament.
AB De Villiers
AB De Villiers Added:
“No one knows what is happening there, all I can do is wish him well, and the whole world that follows Virat and enjoys his cricket must wish him well. Whatever the reason is for this break, I really hope that he comes back stronger and better, healthier and fresh, and ready to take on the world again.”
AB De Villiers
Initially, reports surfaced saying Kohli took leave because his mom was ill. Kohli’s brother quickly debunked this on social media.
The batter was ready to play the ongoing Test series against England after being named to the team and reporting to Hyderabad prior to the series opener. However, he flew away on short notice on the same day, prompting the BCCI to issue a formal statement and bring in Rajat Patidar as a substitute player.
Virat Kohli Likely to Miss Rest of England Tests, India Squad Announcement Awaited
With a ten-day break between the second and third Tests in the series, the selection committee is waiting for updates on various fronts before announcing the team for the next three Tests.
ESPN Cricinfo’s latest update suggests Virat Kohli might skip England’s following two Tests. Additionally, there seems to be uncertainty whether he’ll play the closing Test due to a mentioned personal matter.
Info on the fitness of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul is needed before the team’s members are revealed. Kohli was last seen on the field for the third T20I match against Afghanistan. This was at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in January 2024, where, unfortunately, he didn’t score.