On Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to rest skipper Virat Kohli for the last two One-day Internationals (ODIs) of the ongoing five-match series against New Zealand and the three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) that will commence on February 6.
The Indian deputy skipper in limited-overs cricket, Rohit Sharma will take over the reins during his absence. Following the New Zealand tour, the Indian team will be locking horns with Australia at home for two T20Is and five ODIs ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In a press release, the BCCI stated that Kohli’s workload over the past few months was the reason behind the decision. The release read: “Considering his workload in the last few months, the team management and senior selection committee is of the view that it would be ideal for him to get adequate rest ahead of the home series against Australia.”
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BCCI also stated that there will be no replacement for Kohli in the squad for the New Zealand series. Currently, Team India is having a 1-0 lead in the series after outplaying the Blackcaps by eight wickets in Napier.
Last year during the Asia Cup, Kohli was last rested following India’s tour of Ireland and England. He made a comeback to the team against the Windies before the Indian team boarded the flight to Australia where they achieved history after clinching, both the Test and ODI series.
Kohli, who fell five runs short of his 49th ODI half-century in Napier felt elated after registering a win in the series opener against New Zealand. However, On Tuesday, he bagged three major awards at the ICC awards. Meanwhile, he also became the first cricketer to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, his second consecutive, the ICC Test and the ODI Player of the Year awards following an extraordinary 2018.
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The Indian skipper amassed 1322 runs at an average of 55.08 with five centuries in 13 Tests and 1202 runs at an astounding average of 133.55 with six centuries in 14 ODIs saw him selected to both sides by every voting member of the Academy, with a majority of them also opting to name him as the captain of each.
