NEW DELHI: Star India batsman Virat Kohli is set to miss the third and fourth Tests against England in Rajkot and Ranchi respectively, an ESPNcricinfo report stated on Wednesday.
Virat earlier withdrew from the first two Tests of the five-match series citing personal reasons and his unavailability in the next two Tests will surely be a concern for Team India.
The third Test match will be played at Rajkot's Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium from February 15 and the penultimate Test will be hosted by JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi from February 23.
1/10:India vs England: Bumrah, Bazball and spin
ANI
2/10:India level series with thumping win
<p>India beat England by 106 runs in the second Test in Visakhapatnam on Monday to level the five-match series 1-1.</p>AFP
3/10:'Bazball' is winning fans in India
Ben Stokes's team took a thrilling opening Test by 28 runs after overcoming a 190-run first innings deficit then went down guns blazing in a record 399-run chase in the second.PTI
4/10:Bumrah's perfect yorker
<p>Stumps flew all over the place as Bumrah bowled Ollie Pope with a trademark yorker in the second Test.</p>PTI
5/10:Jasprit Bumrah masterclass
<p>Jasprit Bumrah's mastery of new ball and reverse swing saw him take a first innings 6/45 as England were all out 253, a deficit of 143. </p>Reuters
6/10:Bumrah - an absolute champion of a bowler
<p>Stokes paid tribute after Bumrah bagged three more in England's chase to be named man of the match. "Jasprit Bumrah's an absolute champion of a bowler," said Stokes.</p>AFP
7/10:Ollie Pope special
Ollie Pope's masterful 196 in Hyderabad featured sweep shots of both orthodox and reverse varieties to blunt the Indian spinners and the crowd rose to applaud as England inflicted only the fourth home defeat on India in 47 Tests.PTI
8/10:Nervy moments for India
India had some nervy moments in winning the second Test as England came out roaring in their fourth-inning chase, with Zak Crawley hitting 73 and almost all the batsmen taking on the bowlers.AFP
9/10:England spinners challenged India batters
<p>England's rookie spinners Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed may have only six Test caps between them but they have all challenged India's batters, who are usually masters on turning pitches.</p>PTI
10/10:Tom Hartley on a roll
<p>Raw left-armer Hartley had match-winning figures of 7-62 on debut in Hyderabad and he took four more in India's second innings in Visakhapatnam. His 14 wickets are just one behind Jasprit Bumrah in the series bowling charts.</p>PTIDoubts also persist on Kohli's availability for the fifth Test in Dharmasala, starting March 6.
The selectors are expected to announce the squad for the remaining three Tests this week.
It is understood that selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar or the BCCI's top brass will speak to him to get a clearer picture.
However, Team India can breath a sigh of relief as their ace players KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, who missed the second Test in Vizag due to injuries, are expected to be available for the third Test.
The personal reason for which Kohli opted out of the Tests is the impending arrival of his second child, as revealed by his close friend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers on his YouTube channel.
De Villiers said Kohli has done absolutely the right thing by taking a break.
"Yes, his second child is on the way. It's family time and things are important to him. If you are not true and genuine to yourself, you lose track of what you are here for.
I think most people's priority is family. You can't judge Virat for that. Yes, we miss him. But he has made absolutely the right decision," said De Villiers.
