The Indian captain has asked the BCCI for a break from international cricket.
In a rather surprising turn of events, Virat Kohli has asked the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) for a small sabbatical from the game.
The Indian captain, citing 'personal reasons', has requested the board to give him a break that will see him miss one Test and the entire ODI and T20 series against Sri Lanka in December.
India are scheduled to play three Tests, three ODIs and three T20s against Lanka at home from November 16 to December 24.
“Kohli has informed the BCCI that there are some personal reasons and that is why he won’t be available in the month of December. Kohli has been playing non-stop cricket for quite sometimes now and he certainly would like to be fresh for South Africa tour in January,” a source in the board was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan too had taken a short break recently due to personal reasons.
Kohli, who prides himself on giving his 100 per cent in every match he plays for the country, last missed a Test earlier this year - against Australia in Dharamsala. That, however, was because of a shoulder injury he sustained in the previous Test of that series.
The senior selection committee will meet in Mumbai on Monday to pick teams for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, Board President’s XI against Sri Lanka (warm-up tie) and three-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Before the start of the on-going ODI series against New Zealand, Kohli was asked how he would like to manage the hectic schedule of the Indian cricket team.
“Yes, we have spoken about the schedule, it’s become quite hectic. That’s something we will definitely have to sit and discuss in future. Because, if you look at New Zealand, they haven’t played any cricket after Champions Trophy. There has been such a good lay off. It can be the difference in doing well in a big tournament and performing poorly,” Kohli said.
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