Indian cricket team’s key player, Virat Kohli, has opted out of the first two Test matches against England due to ‘personal reasons,’ leaving uncertainty about his return for the remaining three matches, as reported by Times Of India. According to an anonymous BCCI official, there has been no communication from Kohli regarding his potential comeback to the squad. The absence of Kohli will be a significant setback for the team, adding to the challenges posed by the injuries to KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja.

KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja will miss the second Test starting on February 2 due to injuries sustained in the first Test against England. Rahul, who injured his thigh during the previous match, may return later in the series. However, Jadeja’s hamstring injury is considered more severe, and it might rule him out for the remaining four matches, as per the TOI report.

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“We haven’t heard anything from him on his return as yet,” stated the anonymous BCCI official regarding Kohli. The uncertainty surrounding Kohli’s availability creates a leadership vacuum in the Indian team, especially after their loss in the first Test.

To fill the void, the BCCI has added Sarfaraz Khan, Saurabh Kumar, and Washington Sundar to the squad. The statement from BCCI mentioned, “Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during play on Day Four of the first Test in Hyderabad while Rahul complained of a right quadriceps pain.”

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The medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) is closely monitoring the progress of both players, and their availability for the upcoming matches will depend on the assessment of their injuries. The absence of key players poses a challenge for the Indian team, and the management will need to make strategic decisions to strengthen the squad for the remaining Tests against England.

India Test squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, K.S. Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, Saurabh Kumar.