During a YouTube Live session, the RCB player mentioned that Kohli is doing well and is taking some time off to spend with his family, stating, “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 happy,” AB de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
Later, De Villiers confirmed that Kohli is expecting his second child. “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. Yes, we miss him, but he has made the right decision,” he added.
Kohli and Anushka’s first child was born in 2021.
Kohli opted out of the first two Tests against England due to “personal reasons.”A statement from BCCI regarding the Test series read, “Mr. Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming IDFC First Bank Test series against England, citing personal reasons.”
“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 Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement.
“The BCCI respects his decision, and the Board and team management have extended their support to the star batter and are confident in the abilities of the remaining squad members to step up and deliver commendable performances in the Test series.”
The statement added, “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.”
Kohli, who amassed 765 runs in 11 ODI World Cup matches for runners-up India last year, missed the white-ball leg of the South African tour in 2023 and the opening T20 match against Afghanistan at home recently.
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