Kohli granted paternity leave while Rohit back in India’s Test squad for tour of Australia
Virat Kohli will return to India after the first Test of their tour of Australia after being granted paternity leave.
Players from both the India and Australia sides, who have been involved in the IPL, are currently sharing a bio- secure environment at a hotel in Dubai Marina, before they depart later this week.
Kohli relocated there once his Royal Challengers Bangalore side were beaten in the eliminator match on Friday in Abu Dhabi. He is due to captain the India side in a series of three one-day internationals, three T20Is and four Test matches.
However, he has been given leave to return to India after the first Test, which is due to conclude on December 21 in Adelaide
The BCCI did not clarify if Kohli would return for the rest of the series but given that anyone arriving in Australia must quarantine for 14 days, it seems unlikely that he will be able to play in any of the other three matches.
The second Test begins on December 26, followed by the third in Sydney from January 7, before the final Test in Brisbane on January 15.
It was one of a number of decisions announced by the
BCCI related to the tour. Rohit Sharma’s hamstring injury has been reassessed, given his appearance in the past two matches for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
He is still set to be rested from the limited-overs series in Australia, but “he has been included in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy”, according to the statement.
Sanju Samson has also been rewarded for his eye-catching displays for Rajasthan Royals by being elevated to the ODI squad.
Ishant Sharma, who dropped out of Delhi Capitals’ squad early in the IPL due to injury, is being assessed and “once he fully recovers and gains sufficient match fitness, he will be added to India’s Test squad”.
Varun Chakravarthy’s fairytale rise to the India side will be delayed by a shoulder injury. He will be replaced in the T20 squad by Thangarasu Natarajan.