(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Former South Africa captain and legendary batter AB de Villiers has shed light on why India’s Virat Kohli opted out of the first two Test matches of the upcoming five-match series against England.
Previously, there were reports suggesting that Kohli’s absence was due to concerns about his mother’s health. However, Kohli’s elder brother Vikas Kohli refuted these claims via social media, reassuring fans that their mother is indeed doing well, leaving fans speculating once again.
De Villiers, who shares a close friendship with Kohli and has played numerous IPL matches alongside him for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), disclosed during a Q&A session on his YouTube channel that Kohli and his wife, Anushka Sharma, are expecting their second child.
Responding to a fan’s question about Kohli’s absence and potential return for the final three matches, de Villiers spilled the beans, stating, “All I know is he is fine. He is spending a bit of time with his family, that is the reason he is missing the first two Test matches. I am not going to confirm anything else. I cannot wait to see him back. He is fine, he is doing well.”
De Villiers then shared a snippet of his conversation with Kohli, where he confirmed the news of their second child.
“Let me just see what he said. I just want to at least give you a little bit of love. So I wrote to him ‘Been wanting to check in with you for a while now biscuits. How are you?’. He said ‘Just need to be with my family right now. I am doing well,”’ de Villiers said as quoted.
“Yes, his second child is on the way. Yes, it’s family time and things are important to him. If you are not true and genuine to yourself, you lose track of what you are here for. I think most people’s priority is family. You can’t judge Virat for that,” he added.
Kohli was initially named in the squad for the first two Test matches versus England, but three days before the series commenced, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement announcing his decision to opt out of the initial fixtures.
“Virat has spoken to Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management and the selectors and has emphasized that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention,” the statement read.
The BCCI also urged fans and media outlets to respect Kohli’s privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons, emphasizing that the focus should remain on supporting the Indian cricket team as they prepare for the upcoming challenges in the Test series.
“The BCCI requests the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli’s privacy during this time and refrain from speculating on the nature of his personal reasons. The focus should remain on supporting the Indian cricket team as they embark on the upcoming challenges in the Test series,” BCCI added.