HYDERABAD: In a major setback to Indian plans, Virat Kohli has withdrawn from the first two matches of the five-Test series against England due to “personal reasons”. The Indian board will name a replacement soon, with the first Test beginning here on Jan 25.
“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,” the
BCCI
said in a statement on Monday.
Kohli’s withdrawal opens up a slot in the middle order and the BCCI is optimistic the squad will front up to the challenge. “The BCCI respects his decision and the board and team management has extended its support to the star batter and is confident in the abilities of the remaining squad members to step up and deliver commendable performances in the Test series.
“The BCCI requests the media and fans to respect
Virat Kohli
’s privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons,” the statement added.
In a rich vein of form during the World Cup, where he had piled up 765 runs in 11 ODI World Cup matches for runners-up India last year, Kohli missed the white-ball leg of the South African tour in 2023 and the opening T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali.
Already without Mohammed Shami, who is recovering from an ankle injury, Kohli’s absence — he has 8,848 runs including 29 centuries and an average of over 49 in 113 Tests — will upset India’s calculations in a series likely to be dominated by the spinners.
The script in this series is unlikely to be different from the last two in 2016-17 and 2020-21, when the spinners ruled the roost with 135 wickets.
Offie
Ravichandran Ashwin
was the pick with 60 scalps in the two series while
Ravindra Jadeja
claimed 26 wickets in the 2016-17 series.
Axar Patel, who earned his maiden Test cap in 2021, made the most of Jadeja’s absence to wreck England on turners in Chennai and Ahmedabad.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav will join the trio — India are likely to go in with three spinners — as they look to rattle the England middle order, which will bank heavily on the experience of former skipper Joe Root.
The Yorkshireman has been on three tours of India and Ashwin, the most successful Indian spinner against England in home Tests, will look to add to his tally of 74 sticks from three series — 14 in 2012-13, 28 in 2016-17 and 32 in 2020-21.
The offie has had Ben Stokes’ number nine times, opener Ben Duckett thrice. He has also proved his prowess against the right-handers, dismissing Root and Ollie Pope four times each and Jonny Bairstow thrice. With 337 wickets in India against all countries, Ashwin needs 14 more to eclipse Anil Kumble’s tally of 350 — the most wickets by a spinner in India.
Jadeja and Axar, who will vie for a spot with Kuldeep, have proved to be ideal foil for Ashwin and England will sorely miss Harry Brook. The 24-yearold, who scored four centuries in 12 Tests, has knowledge of local conditions, having played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023, and was expected to be in the XI. Dan Lawrence, who last played a Test in 2022, has been named as Brook’s replacement.
Given his late arrival, England may field both the wicketkeepers — Bairstow and Ben Foakes — in the first Test. The teams had intense sessions at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday. While the Indian team hit the ground in the morning, the Englishmen trained in the afternoon.
English (US) ·