Virat Kohli Out of Remainder England Test Series, Rahul & Jadeja Back

New Delhi: Team India’s star batter Virat Kohli has opted out of of the remainder of the Test series against England for personal reasons, confirmed the BCCI on Saturday.

Kohli did not play in the first two Tests. “Virat Kohli will remain unavailable for selection for the remainder of the series due to personal reasons. The Board fully respects and supports Mr. Kohli’s decision,” the BCCI said in a release on Saturday.

Kohli is currently abroad for a pressing personal family matter.

The India-England Test series is locked 1-1 with India’s win in the second Test in Vizag after the visitors won the series-opener in Hyderabad.

The third Test match will start in Rajkot on February 15.

The national selection committee included senior players Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul in the Test squad but their inclusion will be subject to clearance by the BCCI’s medical team.

Jadeja had injured his hamstring during the opening Test while Rahul had a right quadricep complaint.

Akash Deep from Bengal is the only new face in the 17-man Team India squad. The Bengal speedster Akash Deep, was rewarded for his consistent show in first-class cricket and the recent India A vs England Lions Test series.

India Squad:

Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep.