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Tag: Virat Kohli

  • WATCH: Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir, Rishabh Pant Reach Kanpur Ahead Of IND Vs BAN 2nd Test | cricket news

    India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and star batter Virat Kohli arrived at the team hotel in Kanpur ahead of the team’s second Test against Bangladesh, beginning on Friday at the Green Park. On Tuesday, Pant, Kohli, and Gambhir were spotted outside the team hotel.

    Gambhir’s stint as the head coach in the Test format began on a triumphant note. In his first Test match as India’s head coach, the hosts cruised to a momentous 280-run victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

    Pant announced his return to Test cricket with a stupendous 109-run knock in the second innings. His aggressive strokes combined with defensive display that made things difficult for Bangladesh bowlers, evoked a wave of nostalgia among the Indian fans. He made a promising start on his return in the first innings with 39 off 52 deliveries. He lost his wicket to in-form Hasan Mahmud.

    Kohli had a lean run with the bat in Chennai, hitting 6 and 17 in the two innings. He lost his wicket to Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud and then to spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the second innings. (IND vs BAN: Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Yash Dayal Likely To Be Released From India Squad For Irani Cup)

    Virat Kohli’s welcome at the team’s hotel in Kanpur pic.twitter.com/Fqt7QkNfkX

    Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 24, 2024

    Ashwin was named the ‘Player of the Match’ in the first Test against Bangladesh. He played a crucial 113-run knock from 133 balls in the first inning.

    The 38-year-old bagged a six-wicket haul in the second inning, which helped India clinch a 280-run win on day four of the Chennai Test. Ashwin’s spell in the second inning marked his 37th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, tying him with legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne for the second-most five-wicket hauls in Test history. The only player ahead of Ashwin is Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan, who has 67.

  • ‘Malinga Bana Hua Hai’: Virat Kohli’s Hilarious Chat With Shakib Al Hasan Goes Viral – WATCH | cricket news

    A hilarious exchange between Virat Kohli and Shakib Al Hasan went viral on social media during Day 2 of the first Test match between India and Bangladesh in Chennai. Kohli came out to bat after India lost two quick wickets in their second innings and looked in good form before getting out to Mehidy Hasan Miraz. During his time at the crease, the stump mic picked up Kohli jokingly calling Shakib ‘Malinga’ after the Bangladeshi bowler delivered a series of yorkers. The playful reference was a nod to the legendary Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga.

    After India bowled Bangladesh out for just 149, thanks in part to their lower order, the hosts had posted 376 in their first innings, extending their lead to 308 and showcasing their dominance over the visitors on Day 2 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

    Virat Kohli has become Shakib Malinga, he is giving yorker after yorker pic.twitter.com/Ny1S6xUmkb Vahini (@fairytaledustt_) September 20, 2024

    Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed on Friday admitted that losing too many wickets in the first 10 overs of their first innings against “world class” Indian bowlers has put his side on the backfoot in the opening Test against India. In reply to India’s first innings total of 376, Bangladesh were all out for 149 in 47.1 overs on the second day, with Shakib Al Hasan (32) being their top scorer. They lost three wickets in the first 10 overs and scored 27 runs.

    “Overall, our batting was a little bit disappointing. Yeah, there is some help for the fast bowlers, but still, we could have done much better than that. So yeah, we are disappointed,” Ahmed said at the press conference after the day’s play.

    “We also lost too many wickets in the first 10 (overs), which cost us our game.” (Virat Kohli’s DRS Blunder: Rohit Sharma And Umpire’s Reaction During IND vs BAN 1st Test Goes Viral, See Pics)

    India were 81 for 3 in their second innings at stumps for an overall lead of 308 runs. Ahmed, who took three wickets in India’s first innings and one in the second, also felt that his side’s less experience of playing with the SG balls did not help their cause either. Bangladesh players are mostly used to playing with the Kookaburra balls which have a flatter seam compared to the SG.

    “Also, playing with the SG ball is a challenge. The Indians play with SG ball since childhood, so they know how to use it properly, giving them a huge advantage,” said the 29-year-old right-arm pacer.

    “We also made some mistakes with the new ball. What I felt about the SG ball and this condition is that there were some challenges, especially for the first 10-12 overs. India is a formidable side against any opponent at home. And tries to make the most out of the home advantage, the same as we will do when we play at home soon.”

    As far as bowling is concerned, he said his side bowled well overall. (IND vs BAN: Virat Kohli Matches Sachin Tendulkar In International Record)

    “Yes, yesterday we started well, and at the end of the day, (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja batted well. Also, this morning, we had a good session, and then we finished them all in 37 runs by taking Four more wickets. So overall, we bowled well. Yesterday, there was more help than today.”

    Ahmed gave credit to the Indian bowlers for their consistent line and length. (Rishabh Pant’s Apologetic Gesture To Angry Mohammed Siraj After DRS Error, Video Goes Viral – Watch)

    “No doubt they all are world-class. They were more consistent with their line and lengths, and there were plenty of variations in the Indian bowling attack,” he said.

    On their historic Test win in Pakistan, Ahmed said, “We played overall good cricket in Pakistan, and Test cricket is something you need to be good in your department in every session. But, conditions are different here.”

    Ahmed said his team is still work in progress.

    “Everyone (in the team) is concerned about it and is working on it. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but there is no limit to getting better. While we are trying to improve on it by giving our utmost, at the end of the day, it all boils down to how we execute our plans,” he signed off. (With PTI Inputs)

  • Rishabh Pant Returns As BCCI Announce India Squad For First Bangladesh Test | cricket news

    BCCI declared the squad of the Indian team for the first Test of the series against Bangladesh starting on September 19 on Sunday. Star player Rishabh Pant made a comeback to the Test side after nearly 20 months as India announced their 16-man squad for the first match of the two-Test series against Bangladesh.

    The former India skipper Virat Kohli also returned to the Test side after missing out on playing the five-Test series against England at home earlier this year. Pant who had a lethal accident on December 30, 2022, made a comeback to the Test side. The last time when Pant played in the longest format was back during the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur from December 22-25, 2022.

    NEWS – Team India’s squad for the 1st Test of the IDFC FIRST Bank Test series against Bangladesh announced.

    Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep… pic.twitter.com/ pQn7Ll7k3X — BCCI (BCCI) September 8, 2024

    The BCCI also added uncapped fast bowler Yash Dayal as he scalped four wickets across two innings in the Duleep Trophy to earn his maiden call-up. Another notable inclusion is Akash Deep who managed to retain his place after claiming nine wickets in the Duleep Trophy first-round match. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are set to lead the pace battery against Bangladesh after missing the Duleep Trophy first-round fixture.

    The Test series is set to take place from September 19 in Chennai, followed by the second Test that will be played in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1. The Indian team has played against Bangladesh in 13 Tests to date, with India winning in 11. matches and two ending in draws.

    India Squad for the first Test against Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel , Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.

  • IND vs SL 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka Thrashes India By 110 Runs To Win ODI Series 2-0 For First Time In 27 Years | cricket news

    IND vs SL: In a disappointing end to their three-match series against Sri Lanka, India fell short once again, losing the 3rd ODI by 110 runs. Sri Lanka, having posted a total of 248/7, successfully defended their score as India collapsed for just 138 runs in Colombo. Dunith Wellalage was the standout performer for Sri Lanka, delivering a match-winning five-wicket haul. His impressive bowling performance included the crucial wicket of Kuldeep Yadav, sealing India’s fate. Wellalage’s ability to dismantle India’s batting lineup was a key factor in Sri Lanka’s dominant display.

    India’s batting woes were evident throughout the series, with only Rohit Sharma providing any significant resistance. Despite his efforts, the Indian batting order struggled against Sri Lankan bowlers, failing to chase targets of less than 250 runs in both matches they lost. This series defeat highlights major concerns for the Indian team as they approach the Champions Trophy.

    Sri Lanka’s victory in the 3rd ODI means they win the series 2-0, showcasing their strength and preparation ahead of upcoming international fixtures. The Indian team, on the other hand, will need to address their batting frailties and enhance their strategies if they are to perform better in future tournaments.

    As the series concludes, the Indian team faces intense scrutiny and pressure to regroup and refine their approach before the Champions Trophy. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will look to build on this successful series and maintain their momentum in upcoming contests.

  • Stars who can replace Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja in T20Is for Team India | Cricket News

    Three big names of Indian cricket have called it time from T20 internationals and it is Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli with Ravindra Jadeja saying goodbye to T20I cricket. While the Indian skipper leave the format as leading run-scorer with 4231 runs, the star batter Kohli finished second in the list with 4188 runs for the time being. The departure of these three big icons means India will have to fill the squad with just more than talent as they take away plenty of experience from the side as well.

    Here are some cricketers who can replace their seniors of Indian cricket…

    Shubman Gill

    Deemed as ‘Prince Of Cricket’ by his fans, Shubman Gill has been a regular fit for India in the white-ball format. However, he could make the cut in this T20 World Cup squad as the team wanted different combinations. He will lead the Men in Blue in the upcoming Zimbabwe.

    Abhishek Sharma

    He plays much like Rohit Sharma with an aggressive approach from the beginning of his career and has had a stellar IPL season in Sunrisers Hyderabad.

    Yashasvi Jaiswal

    Jaiswal is another IPL prodigy who has impressed at times wearing the Indian jersey. His ability to score big and quick can make him number one choice as an opener.

    KL Rahul

    Interestingly, Rahul is the most experience cricketer in the format for India after Virat Kohli and Rohit. His performance in the ODI World Cup was stunning but he was ignored this time for the T20 World Cup 2024.

    Team India skipper Rohit Sharma posed with the T20 World Cup trophy at a beach in Barbados on Monday. The Men in Blue won the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup after beating South Africa by seven runs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared the pictures of Rohit where he was seen posing with the prestigious trophy on the beach.

    “A billion dreams, a billion emotions, and a billion smiles! Mission accomplished. World Cup conquered. We are World Champions. Hey, Captain! You’ve done it,” BCCI wrote on X while sharing the pictures.

    Summarising the final match of the tournament, India won the toss and opted to bat first. After being reduced to 34/3, a counter-attacking partnership between Virat (76) and Axar Patel (47 in 31 balls, with one four and four sixes) of 72 runs restored India’s position in the game. A 57-run stand between Virat and Shivam Dube (27 in 16 balls, with three fours and a six) took India to 176/7 in their 20 overs.

    Keshav Maharaj (2/23) and Anrich Nortje (2/26) were the top bowlers for SA. Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram took a wicket each.

    In the run chase of 177 runs, Proteas was reduced to 12/2 and then a 58-run partnership between Quinton de Kock (39 in 31 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and Tristan Stubbs (31 in 21 balls, with three fours and a six) brought back SA into the game. A half-century by Heinrich Klaasen (52 in 27 balls, with two fours and five sixes) threatened to take the game away from India.

    However, Arshdeep Singh (2/18), Jasprit Bumrah (2/20) and Hardik (3/20) made a fine comeback in death overs, keeping SA to 169/8 in their 20 overs. Virat secured the ‘Player of the Match’ for his performance. Now, by securing their first ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 2013, India has ended their ICC trophy drought.

  • Babar Azam furious after Haris Rauf concedes last ball boundary against USA in T20 World Cup 2024- WATCH | Cricket News

    Pakistan suffered a shocking defeat to the USA in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. This loss has put Pakistan’s campaign in jeopardy, significantly reducing their chances of reaching the Super 8s. Babar Azam was visibly upset with fast bowler Haris Rauf after he gave up 11 runs in the last three balls, forcing a Super Over in Dallas. Despite starting well, Rauf failed to defend 14 runs in the final over of the second innings. Babar Azam stormed off the field, expressing his frustration verbally, as Pakistan failed to defend 159 runs against the USA, who are playing their first T20 World Cup.

    Ka karo may be in full angry mood #babarazam pic.twitter.com/h6s5RXB0fK

    — Babariology (@bismajahangir4) June 6, 2024

    The Pakistan team struggled in the first 10 overs with the ball, putting pressure on themselves. However, the fast bowlers made a strong comeback in the second half, with wickets from Haris Rauf and Mohammed Amir keeping Pakistan in the game. Rauf, who had been bowling well, came to defend 15 runs in the final over but ended up giving away 14 runs, leading to the Super Over at the Grand Prairie Stadium.

    Babar Azam’s frustration continued in the Super Over as Mohammed Amir gave up 18 runs against relatively unknown batters. Amir bowled multiple wide balls and overthrows, adding easy runs to the USA’s total. In the end, Pakistan failed to chase down the 19-run target in the Super Over, leading to one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.

    Pakistan’s Big Game Against India

    Pakistan is in trouble after losing to the USA. Their next game against India will be almost like a knockout match. It will take place at Nassau County Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9. Historically, Pakistan has struggled against India in T20 World Cups, losing six out of seven matches. However, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, remains optimistic, saying the outcome will depend on which team stays composed.

  • India’s pace attack decimates Ireland in T20 World Cup opener; Rohit Suffers Injury Scare On New York’s Deadly Pitch | Cricket News

    Skipper Rohit Sharma’s freak upper arm injury came as a dampener but India’s four-pronged pace attack was too deadly for an out-of-depth Ireland during a walk-in-the park eight-wicket victory in their opening game of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday. The ‘Men in Blue’ will indeed have some sleepless nights going into the Pakistan game on June 9 after Rohit’s injury. The Mumbai man had to leave the field after a well-compiled half-century (52 off 37 balls) as he missed a pull shot off a short-pitched delivery from Gujarat Titans pacer Josh Little. The ball hit him on the upper part of his right-arm left Rohit in considerable pain.

    On a drop-in track that offered variable bounce and extra seam movement, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj didn’t even need to bring in their ‘A’ game. Arshdeep Singh and a rejuvenated Hardik Pandya were good enough to dismantle the Irish for 96 in just 16 overs.

    Arshdeep (2/35 in 4 overs), Pandya (3/27 in 4 overs), Siraj (1/13 in 3 overs) and Bumrah (2/6 in 3 overs) didn’t give any breathing space to Irish batters who were made to look like novices in front of swing, seam and extra bounce produced during the 14 out of 16 overs that they bowled. Such was their plight as none of the Irish batters save Gareth Delany (26 no, 14 balls) could even cross the 20-run mark.

    Delany’s innings took them close to the 100-run mark. Later, Rohit entertained the crowd with his customary pull-shots which found their appointed place in the semi-empty make-shift stands to complete the chase in 12.2 overs.

    Virat Kohli (1) and Suryakumar Yadav (2) missed out on some batting practice while Rishabh Pant (36 not out) was generally good in his first outing as No. 3.

    The partisan Indian spectators, many of whom having taken a mid-week leave went home happy. But the playing conditions and the variable bounce on offer from the drop-in track certainly will leave a lot of questions about the preparedness of the Nassau County ground ahead of the most high-profile match of the tournament in three days’ time here – India vs Pakistan.

    There were deliveries that were flying off from length and a few that didn’t rise above knee roll and in these conditions, each and every batter could feel that they could get injured — whether its arm like Rohit or on the forearm and knuckle like Pant.

    Rohit was lucky with the coin and the overcast conditions was just the kind of help Arshdeep needed first up as he bowled an ideal Test match length with the white Kookaburra. Most of his deliveries were pitched up and reared up from length making life miserable for the seasoned duo of Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie.

    It only helped that Mohammed Siraj also kept up the relentless pressure from the other end as the two openers found it difficult to even put bat on balls that were jagging around allowing Rishabh Pant to dive full stretch on both sides of the track.

    Stirling tried to pull one which climbed up on him from good length and Pant ran backwards to pouch the skier. For Balbirnie, his ‘one-leg’ stance turned out to be a wrong strategy to counter Arshdeep as he bowled one that was pitched on middle and moved a shade towards off with the batter with no footwork unable to cover the line of the swing.

    The Powerplay went horribly wrong at 26 for 2 for Ireland, and there was no coming back for them. Pandya as the second change pacer bowled a perfect nip-backer with a wobbly seam to breach through Lorcan Tucker’s defence.

    Bumrah then scarred an already rattled Harry Tector with a nasty bouncer that took his gloves and almost blew away his head lobbing off the helmet. At the halfway stage, Ireland, who recently beat Pakistan in a T20I at home, were 49 for 6 and the match already became lopsided.

    The biggest gain from the game was Pandya bowling his full quota of overs and the lengths that he hit during his spell which will give his skipper a chance to play an extra batter or bowler as per the demands of the conditions in coming games. His three dismissals were different deliveries — first one was swing, the second seam and the third extra bounce.

  • T20 World Cup: Team India’s journey from clinching maiden trophy to repeated heartbreaks | Cricket News

    New Delhi: Six months after the bittersweet ODI World Cup campaign, Indian cricket fans embrace and turn their attention to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the hope that Rohit and Co can finally end the 11-year ICC trophy drought that the country is suffering.

    From the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007 in South Africa to the ninth edition of the tournament set to take place in the United States of America and the Caribbean, here is a look at India’s journey across 17 years:

    2007 World Cup:

    India made history by becoming the first-ever winner of the T20 World Cup. The tournament was full of memorable moments like the iconic India-Pakistan bowl-off and Gautam Gambhir’s heroics in the final.

    Gambhir’s 75 in the final helped a struggling side put up a defendable total. Alongside Gambhir, Rohit Sharma was also responsible for a quickfire 30 runs in the final which propelled India’s score to 157 against Pakistan.

    Wickets at regular intervals saw the Pakistan side struggle until Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir’s crucial cameos with Misbah-ul-haq saw the game tilt in the Men in Green’s favour. India needed to defend 12 runs in the final five deliveries with only one wicket remaining.

    The second ball of the over bowled by Joginder Sharma was slammed by Misbah for six over long-on and it seemed the game was over. An attempt to scoop the ball over fine leg on the next delivery saw Sreesanth take a comfortable catch and secure victory for India.

    Struggle To Reach Knockouts:

    In eight editions of the tournament played so far, Team India have failed to make the knockouts in four.

    2009-

    Defending champions India entered the 2009 tournament with high expectations. After topping their group they faced tough opposition in England, South Africa, and the West Indies. The Men in Blue finished at the bottom of their group after failing to win a single game. South Africa went on to lose to eventual winners Pakistan in the semifinal.

    2010-

    The very next year saw India’s struggles continue as they faced hosts West Indies, Australia, and Sri Lanka in the Super Eight and once again failed to register a win, making it two Super Eight eliminations in a row.

    2012-

    The 2012 T20 World Cup was a strange one for India, playing in the sub-continent with Sri Lanka as the host, India faced Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan in the Super 8. The Men in Blue registered two wins against SA and Pak , respectively. But a devastating nine-wicket loss against Australia saw them miss out on a spot in the semifinals, making it the third consecutive early exit for the country.

    2021-

    The 2021 T20 World Cup was perhaps the worst display by India in the World Cup. Not only did the team lose its first-ever World Cup match against Pakistan, it lost to New Zealand as well in the group stages which resulted in the team being knocked out in the preliminary round itself.

    Heartbreak Knockout:

    2014-

    The tournament was Virat Kohli’s first ICC tournament in which he displayed his full capabilities, scoring 319 runs including 77 runs in the final against Sri Lanka. But his performances went in vain as India could only put up a score of 130 runs in the game, a target which was chased in 18 overs by Sri Lanka.

    Kohli’s 319 runs in six innings still stands as the most by a player in a single edition.

    2016-

    India’s performance in the 2016 World Cup was a bittersweet one. Despite losing their first game of the Super 10’s stage against New Zealand, hosts India went on to win against Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Australia in their next three games to secure a well-deserved semifinal berth. The semifinal at Wankhede was won by West Indies, who went on to beat England in the final.

    2022-

    India and England faced off in Adelaide in the semifinals of the tournament. Virat Kohli’s fifty runs and Hardik Pandya’s blistering 63 off 33 took the side to 168 runs in the first innings. Unfortunately for India, Jos Buttler and Alex Hales were two men in form on the night as the opening partners remained undefeated helping England romp to an easy 10-wicket victory for England.

    Virat Kohli’s Dominance

    Virat Kohli made his T20 World Cup debut in the 2012 edition of the tournament and what has followed since has been nothing short of historic. Throughout the five editions he has played in, he has scored 1141 runs in 25 innings across five editions at an average of 81.5 and a strike rate of 131.3. He has scored 14 half-centuries, the most in the tournament’s history, and is also the only player to win the Player of the Tournament award twice.

    Spinners Lead The Way

    Ravichandran Ashwin is India’s most successful bowler in the history of the tournament. The 37-year-old played his first T20 World Cup in 2012 and has taken 32 wickets in the five editions of the tournament. He is followed by Ravindra Jadeja who has 21 to his name. Irfan Pathan is India’s highest wicket-taking pacer with 16 to his name.

    Rohit Sharma is one of the only two players (Shakib Al Hasan is the other) to play in every edition of the tournament. The Hitman has scored 963 runs in 39 matches at an average of 34.39 and a strike rate of 127.88 across eight editions.

  • Virat Kohli’s Replacement For First Two Tests Vs ENG: Sarfaraz Khan And Rajat Patidar In Contention – Report | cricket news

    India’s key batsman, Virat Kohli, has withdrawn from participation in the initial two Tests against England citing personal reasons that necessitate his immediate and exclusive focus, as stated by the BCCI on Monday. The cricket board has appealed to both fans and media to avoid speculating about the precise cause for his compelled absence before the commencement of the five-match series scheduled to kick off in Hyderabad on January 25. The Board has assured that a replacement for the prominent batter will be announced soon.

    “Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming IDFC First Bank Test series against England, citing personal reasons,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

    The BCCI also said that Kohli has discussed his decision with skipper Rohit Sharma and the team management. (Shoaib Malik’s Bride Sana Javed Shares New Wedding Photo On Internet, Check Pic Here)

    “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,” the release further stated.

    Pant said “When I came into the Test team in 2018, the thought process under Kohli Bhai & Ravi Bhai was to win in overseas – We want to be the best in the world”. [Star Sports] pic.twitter.com/AKvecvY6HL Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 19, 2024

    Shah also said that BCCI completely backs its star player and has faith in the team and its ability to get results even without its best batsman. (Virat Kohli To Miss First 2 Tests Vs England Due To Personal Reasons, BCCI Requests Fans To Respect His Privacy)

    “The BCCI respects his decision and the Board and team management has extended its support to the star batsman and is confident in the abilities of the remaining squad members to step up and deliver commendable performances in the Test series,” the secretary said. He also urged everyone to respect Kohli’s privacy.

    “The BCCI requests the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli’s privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons.

    “The focus should remain on supporting the Indian cricket team as they embark on the upcoming challenges in the Test series,” Shah said.

    It has been learned that both Shah and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar were kept in loop about the possibility of Kohli needing a break at some point during the England series. Recently, Kohli also skipped the first T20I game against Afghanistan due to “personal reasons”.

    Before that, he had taken a short break, again for personal reasons, during India’s tour of South Africa where he missed an intra-squad practice game and flew to London, within days after arriving in South Africa. The last time he took a break, which was not linked to any injury, during a Test series was a paternity leave in 2021 when his daughter Vamika was born. He only played the first Test of that series.

    Rajat Patidar vs Sarfaraz Khan as replacement

    It is understood that one among the two heavyweight India ‘A’ performers — Rajat Patidar of Madhya Pradesh and Sarfaraz Khan of Mumbai — are frontrunners to replace Kohli.

    Patidar recently scored 151 against the England Lions in an unofficial Test and Sarfaraz scored a half-ton in the second innings of the same game. There is talk of including veteran Cheteshwar Pujara in the line-up considering his experience of 20,000 plus first-class runs, including 7000 in Tests.

    However, it will be interesting if the current selection committee under Agarkar is ready to look back or move forward.The batting line-up for first Test will comprise Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, and KS Bharat (wk).