Karachi
India captain Virat Kohli, who plans to return home for the birth of his first child, has been granted a paternity leave from the team’s tour of Australia after the opening Test in Adelaide, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Monday.
‘The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first Test against Australia in Adelaide,’ board secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.
India will leave for Australia late this month to play six short-form internationals followed by a four-Test series.
Meanwhile, the BCCI Medical Team has been monitoring Rohit Sharma’s fitness and has briefed All-India Senior Selection Committee on the same. In consultation with Sharma, it has been decided to rest him for the ODIs and T20Is in Australia to regain full fitness and he has been included in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Selection Committee has added Sanju Samson as an additional wicket-keeper to India’s ODI squad.
Fast-bowler Ishant Sharma has been undergoing his rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Once he fully recovers and gains sufficient match fitness, he will be added to India’s Test squad.
Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the T20I series owing to a shoulder injury. The selectors have named T Natarajan as a replacement.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha has sustained injuries to both his hamstrings during his side’s IPL game on November 3. A call on his availability will be taken later.
Young pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti will not be able to travel to Australia as he is still working with the medical team on his bowling workload management.—Agencies
