Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has expressed his full support for Virat Kohli’s decision to prioritize family amid the ongoing chatter about his absence from the Test series against England. Kohli has missed the initial two Tests due to personal reasons and is expected to extend his break by skipping the third and fourth Tests, with uncertainty surrounding his availability for the final match. The ongoing Test series is currently level at 1-1.
Steyn emphasized the importance of prioritizing family, stating, “I think family is your most important priority. I’m sorry, like, that’s it, you know. That’s the end of the story. Like right there.”
Dale Steyn further illustrated his point by sharing a personal example, mentioning that if one of his dogs were sick while he was playing in the IPL, he would immediately fly back home to attend to the situation.
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Addressing Kohli’s decision, Dale Steyn continued, “So if Virat Kohli has decided to sit at home, I don’t see any problem with that at all.” He praised Kohli’s significant contributions to Indian cricket, acknowledging his roles as a World Cup winner and captain.
Reflecting on the unseen support system behind every player, Steyn highlighted the importance of family members and close ones. “I think that the people behind you, the people behind the scenes, are what the public don’t see. So your wife, your partner, your mother, your mom, your brother, your sister, your father, your cousin, it doesn’t really matter; those people are the ones constantly picking you up and keeping you at where you are.”
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He concluded by emphasizing that family matters more than cricket, emphasizing the integral role played by the support system behind a player.
Virat Kohli withdrew from the England series just three days before it began, citing “personal reasons.” Despite landing in Hyderabad to join the Indian squad, he flew out on the same day.
