Virat Kohli is set to miss the next two Tests against England and could sit out of the entire series, reports claim.
The star batter pulled out of the first two matches due to personal reasons and could be unavailable for the final three.
India bounced back from their shock opening Test defeat by winning by 106 runs in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
Jasprit Bumrah won player of the match after picking up nine wickets and spearheading the hosts’ attack on a good pitch for batting.
India batter Virat Kohli is set to miss the next two Tests against England
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India skipper Rohit Sharma will have hoped to have had Kohli to call on for the remainder of the series to boost his team’s chances.
However, ESPNCricinfo claims the 35-year-old will still be absent for next week’s match in Rajkot and the fourth Test in Ranchi.
Kohli was set to play the first Test in Hyderabad last month before pulling out just a couple of days before the series began.
The BCCI confirmed at the time that personal reasons were behind the decision.
A statement read: “Virat has emphasised that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention.
“The BCCI respects his decision and the board and team management have extended their support to the star batter and are confident in the abilities of the remaining squad members to step up.
“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.”
It was suggested that Kohli could return in Rajkot but that will no longer be the case and he could now miss the whole series.
The news will certainly be a boost to England’s chances of pulling off a surprise series win.
Kohli is India’s best batter and his ruthlessness in the middle order has been missed in the first two games.
Speaking after the defeat in Vizag, England coach Brendon McCullum had ‘no doubt’ that India would be in a better place if Kohli returned.
McCullum wished Kohli well, telling talkSPORT: “Virat is one of the greatest players of the game has seen. No doubt it improves this squad.
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Virat Kohli has already missed India’s first two Tests against England
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“As we have said throughout, the depth in Indian cricket, the talent in India is immense. So we respect every opposition player that we come up against.
“If Virat is coming backā¦ we hope everything is well with his family. We will look forward to that challenge too.
“He is a great competitor. I know him very well and I enjoyed playing against him, I enjoyed our team playing against him.
“And if you have success against the best, I am sure you have earned it.”
England coach Brendon McCullum said there was no doubt Virat Kohli would improve India
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India could be boosted by the return of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul, who missed the second Test due to injury.
Mohammed Siraj is also available again after being rested last week.
The third Test starts in the early hours of next Thursday, February 15.
England will be assessing the fitness of Jack Leach after he was left out in Vizag due to a knee problem.
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