Batting legend Virat Kohli will not be available for Team India under Rohit Sharma for the first two Tests of India vs England Test Series 2024.
Days after returning to the T20 format at home in the Afghanistan series, Kohli withdrew from India’s forthcoming red-ball assignment , claiming personal reasons.
Unexpectedly, Virat Kohli has chosen to skip the opening two Test matches of the five-match india vs england test series 2024, which gets underway on January 25. The captain Rohit Sharma stated ‘personal reasons’ for his absence.
The first two Test matches in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam will be missed by the former world number one batter. The first test is started on Thursday.
“Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming IDFC First Bank Test series against England, citing personal reasons,” BCCI said in an official statement.
Team India will shortly reveal Kohli’s replacement, according to BCCI. For India, Kohli has participated in 113 Test matches. The 35-year-old scored 8,848 runs for the Asian heavyweights in 191 Test innings at an average of 49.16. In the game’s longest format, the former captain of India has amassed 29 centuries and 30 half-centuries.
Remember that India will have two specialist batsmen in KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, as well as two choices for wicketkeeping in KS Bharath and Dhruv Jurel. With large gloves behind the stumps, Rahul won’t be under any strain, so he can bat at number four without worrying about managing his workload. Shreyas Iyer may be under some pressure ahead of the Test series against England. Srikar Bharat got a century for India ‘A’ team in the four days match against England Lion In Ahmedabad’s 22 yards.
In Test cricket, Rahul Dravid is the opposite of KL Rahul’s wicket-keeping. KL Rahul has to play as a specialist batsman, according to him.
Shreyas Iyer failed with the bat in South Africa tour. Rahul’s brilliant 101-run century in the second match of the South Africa series gave him an added advantage for the Test series with England at home.
Who can replace Kohli in the first Test? Who are the options available in the squad as of now?
Shreyas Iyer could be in the playing XI if KL Rahul is behind the wicket in the England Test series.
However, Shreyas Iyer place may be in doubt if KL Rahul is the only batsman in the Indian Test team’s starting XI.
If Wicket keeper Srikar Bhagat is included in India’s XI for the Test match between England and India, the out-of-form Shreyas Iyer may get a place in the squad.
Shreyas may then take his place at number five and Bharath might move behind him. Then, two fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, as well as all-round players like Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Akshar Patel, will be included in the mix. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rohit Sharma can to be in the top three.
India vs England Test Series 2024- India’s Probable Playing XI for first test match :
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
