TOI had reported on February 3 that the selectors and team management wanted to check one more time with Kohli if he was willing to make himself available to play any part of the series.
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It seems Kohli has made it clear that he needs to be with his family and won’t be available for the next two Test matches in Rajkot and Ranchi.
However, it is unlikely that he will be back for the last Test match in Dharamsala too.
“Kohli had asked for leave from mid-February. Three days before the first Test, he conveyed to the BCCI that needs to take an early leave. The board has always respected his decision,” a BCCI source told TOI.
Given how vulnerable India’s middle order has looked, the board thought it would be wise to check on Kohli one final time. The selectors are unlikely to make any major changes for the next three Test matches. Rajat Patidar is likely to get a longer run.
It will be interesting to see if the team management sticks with Shreyas Iyer or wants to test the uncapped Sarfaraz Khan. Iyer’s Test record has been good at home.
The team management will have to think it through if it wants to have two raw batters – Patidar and Sarfaraz – in the Test playing XI.
