India captain Virat Kohli will return to India from Australia after the first test in the four-match series, the Board of Control of Cricket India (BCCI) said in a statement on Monday. India’s cricket board also confirmed that Rohit Sharma has been included in the test team, but will rest for the One-day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) Down Under series. Kohli had hinted to BCCI about his plans to return to India after the first test at the selection committee meeting in October and was granted paternity leave, according to the statement. Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma are expecting their first child in January of next year.
“At the selection committee meeting held on October 26, 2020, Mr. Virat Kohli informed BCCI of his plans to return to India after the first test in Adelaide,” the statement said. “The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first test against Australia in Adelaide.”
Rohit Sharma was initially left out of all teams when the teams for the Australia tour were announced, due to a hamstring injury sustained during the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL).
However, the BCCI has been monitoring his physical condition and has authorized him to play the test series.
“The BCCI medical team has been monitoring Rohit Sharma’s physical condition and has informed the All India Senior Selection Committee about it,” the statement said.
“In consultation with Mr Sharma, it has been decided to let him rest for the ODI and T20I in Australia to regain his fitness and he has been included in the India test team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” he concluded.
After missing four games during the IPL, Rohit Sharma returned to action for the Mumbai Indians for their final league game and also played the Qualifying 1 match against Delhi Capitals, raising questions about his exclusion from the India team.
He will lead MI in the final against DC on November 10.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who was named to the T20I team, will be unable to tour due to a shoulder injury, according to the statement, with T Natarajan replacing him.
Sanju Samson has been added to the ODI team as a backup wicketkeeper.
A call will be taken later about Wriddhiman Saha’s physical condition, according to the statement. Saha had suffered hamstring injuries while playing for SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who was scheduled to fly to Australia as a net thrower, will also not attend, as he has to work with BCCI’s medical team in managing his bowling workload.
The India tour of Australia will begin with a three-game ODI series, starting on November 27.
The ODI series will be followed by three T20Is, starting December 4.
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The first test will begin on December 17 and will continue until December 21. The second test is the Boxing Day test.
The four-game series will conclude on January 19.
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