Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has decided to not play in the initial two Tests against England, choosing to step away from the series as their batsman.
Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team and a stalwart with 113 Tests under his belt, has decided to step away from the upcoming five-Test series against England, scheduled to start in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Kohli's withdrawal comes due to certain personal situations that require his immediate attention. The BCCI and the team management have expressed their support for Kohli and urged the media and fans to respect his privacy and refrain from speculating on his personal reasons.
In the absence of Kohli, Shubman Gill has been named as the principal replacement. Gill, an English batter named Harry Brook, returned to the UK a day prior for personal reasons, will join the squad as the new batting leader. Gill has emerged as a natural successor to Kohli, having notably captained India and finished as the highest scorer with 754 runs in the recent England Test series.
With the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Kohli from Test cricket in May 2025, Gill, along with KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and others, have stepped up as the core batting lineup in Tests for India. Gill's performance and leadership in his first series as Test captain have set him apart.
The BCCI acknowledges Kohli's commitment to representing India while understanding the urgency of his personal situation. A replacement for Kohli in the squad will be announced, taking into account his significant role as the team's captain in 68 Tests from 2014 to 2022.
Kohli currently holds the fourth position in the country's all-time leading run-scorers with 8,848 runs. This is the first time in over two years that Kohli will miss a Test series. The last instance when Kohli missed a Test series was due to a back spasm during the match against South Africa in Johannesburg.
The upcoming five-Test series is a significant event, and the Indian team will be looking to perform well without their former captain. The series is set to start in Hyderabad, and fans are eagerly awaiting the first ball.
Despite Virat Kohli's absence due to personal reasons, his role as a leader extends beyond cricket as Shubman Gill takes on the task of batting leadership in the upcoming five-Test series against England. As Gill prepares to make his impact in the series, he follows in Kohli's footsteps, having captained India and showcased remarkable performance in the recent England Test series.
