Virat Kohli is set to miss the remaining three Tests against England and it is unlikely that a dialogue with the team management and the national selectors will change his mind.
Sources told The Telegraph that Kohli had informed the selectors about his unavailability for the entire series during their meeting in Hyderabad. Later Board secretary Jay Shah announced that he would be unavailable only for the first two Tests because of “personal reasons”.
It was decided that a call on Kohli’s availability would be taken following the Visakhapatnam match after speaking to him.
“I think it’s best to ask the selectors once the team will be selected for the next three games. I’m sure they’re the best people to answer that. We’ll get to that. I’m sure there will be a selection (meeting) over the next few days and we’ll connect with him and find out,” head coach Rahul Dravid told the media after their 106-run victory in the second Test.
The Telegraph had first reported on Friday that there was uncertainty over Kohli’s availability for the rest of the matches as well.
The Board is understood to have left it to the team management and chief selector Ajit Agarkar to decide on the issue. Kohli is currently overseas.
“Kohli had made it clear that it would be impossible for him to devote 100 per cent for this series. Agarkar is expected to speak to him but there’s very little chance that he would return for the series,” the source said. “Even his playing the final Test in Dharamsala would benefit the side, given the wobbly middle-order.”
None in the line-up managed to reach 50 in the two innings in the second Test except for first innings-double centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal and centurion Shubman Gill in the second innings.
While the Board has requested everyone to respect Kohli’s privacy, AB de Villiers recently revealed on his YouTube show that Kohli and wife Anushka Sharma were expecting their second child and “it’s family time” for him.
There’s also talk that the team management may decide to rest Jasprit Bumrah as part of workload management in Rajkot. The third Test begins on February 15.
Bumrah bowled more than 32 overs in the two innings in Visakhapatnam. The decision has also been influenced by the fact that the Rajkot wicket had favoured the batters with very little assistance for the pacers in particular.
It would be unfair to put Bumrah under stress in such circumstances since his appearance in the last two Tests in Ranchi and Dharamsala could be crucial for the series. Mohammed Siraj is expected to take Bumrah’s place in the playing XI.
The think-tank could play four spinners and a pacer if the conditions are similar to the first two Tests. Playing an extra batter also can’t be ruled out.
While KL Rahul’s availability for the third Test will boost their batting, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami will continue to stay out for the next two Tests.
Jadeja had suffered a hamstring strain during the first Test in Hyderabad and is currently at the National Cricket Academy. There is hope in some quarters that he may be available for the final Test.
