Team India batter Virat Kohli is set to miss the third and the fourth Test against England in the ongoing five-match series. The third test will commence on Thursday, February 15 in Rajkot, while the fourth will take place in Ranchi. The series is equalled at 1-1 after the first two Tests, as India defeated England by 106 runs at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
Virat Kohli opted out of the first two test matches of the series for personal reasons. He landed in Hyderabad to join the squad for the first Test but flew out on the same day. The BCCI did not reveal the exact reason for his unavailability. Their statement read,
“Virat has spoken to Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management and the selectors and has emphasised that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention.”
According to ESPNCricinfo, the veteran is set to miss the third and fourth Tests in Rajkot and Ranchi, respectively. His availability for the final Test in Dharamshala is also uncertain. The fifth test is set to take place from Thursday, March 7.
Mohammed Siraj to be back for the third Test
Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj missed the second Test against England at Vishakhapatnam. He was rested for the match given the long duration of the series. The pacer will be back for the third Test in Rajkot. Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja’s injuries are being monitored at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during the first Test, while KL Rahul sat out due to a quad strain. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to announce the Indian squad for the remainder of the test series soon.
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