The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli left Australia on Tuesday morning having handed over the Test captaincy for the remaining part of the Test series Down Under. As Kohli and Anushka Sharma are expecting their first child, the batsman requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for paternity leave. The BCCI obliged and Kohli was set to play only the pink-ball Test.

Speaking to ANI, sources aware of the developments in the team said that Kohli left for India this morning after having had a meeting with his teammates and boosted their morale. Being bundled out for just 36 in the second innings of the Adelaide Test saw fans and critics lash out at the Indian players, but skipper Kohli wants the team to move forward and look at what lies ahead.

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ANI’s source said, “Kohli has left Australia today morning. He had a word with the whole unit before leaving and the idea was to boost the confidence of the boys and keep them positive. He officially handed over the mantle of captaincy to Rahane and asked the team to keep showing intent and express themselves on the pitch. With Rohit Sharma set to join the squad only after the second game, Rahane’s role becomes all the more important in guiding the youngsters.”

Meanwhile, the veteran Indian opener, Rohit Sharma is going through the quarantine period in Sydney and there has been no talks around moving him from the city after the fresh outbreak of COVID-19 cases. 

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Talking about Rohit, one of the BCCI officials said, “He does not need to move from Sydney. He is safe and is in a bio-secure environment undergoing quarantine. While he is alone in his room, the Indian board as well as the team management is constantly in touch with him. If there was any emergency or if we felt that he needed to get out of Sydney, we would. But for now, he is completely safe there.”