The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally announced the Indian cricket squad for the remaining three Tests against England after a prolonged delay. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer have been omitted from the squad, while KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion is conditional upon them meeting the required fitness standards before the third Test beginning on February 15. Kohli had earlier withdrawn from the first two Tests citing personal reasons. With the BCCI’s recent squad announcement, Kohli’s absence from the entire series is confirmed.
In a statement, the BCCI expressed full support for Kohli’s decision to remain unavailable for the series due to personal reasons. This marks the first Test series in 13 years without Kohli, as highlighted by his IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, who assured him of their unwavering support and reserved his seat for his return.
South African cricketing legend Dale Steyn emphasized the importance of prioritizing family, supporting Kohli’s decision to spend time with his family during the ongoing series against England. Steyn praised Kohli’s commitment to family values and questioned the need for Kohli to prove himself further, given his significant contributions to Indian cricket over the years.
Overall, the BCCI’s squad announcement and Kohli’s absence due to personal reasons have garnered significant attention in the cricketing world, prompting discussions about the balance between professional commitments and personal priorities.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul*, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep
The participation of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team.