Virat Kohli to leave Australia after first Test for birth of child

Cricket Australia has been dealt a huge blow with Indian megastar Virat Kohli to play just one Test before he returns home.

Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma walk on the field as they celebrate India's series win on the fifth day of the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Picture: Peter Parks/AFP

Cricket Australia says they respect the fact Virat Kohli wants to be there for the birth of his first child, despite the disappointment of having the world’s best player drop out of most of the Test series.

It’s a colossal hammer blow to Australia’s $300 million summer, after Indian cricket released a bombshell statement late on Monday night advising that Kohli will fly back to India after the first day-night Test in Adelaide for “paternity leave”.

There is no indication whether Kohli would attempt to rejoin the squad, but the fact he would be going home just before Christmas and would have to spend a further two-weeks in quarantine should he fly back effectively puts a line through him given the series wraps up on January 19.

Watch every ODI, T20 & Test Match of India’s tour of Australia LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

It’s a massive boost to Australia’s hopes of reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar trophy, but losing the game’s No.1 drawcard is a crushing disappointment for CA administrators and broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel 7.

Cricket Australia interim chief executive Nick Hockley said the governing body had been expecting the call from India and wished Kohli all the best.

“We’re thrilled Virat is coming out for three ODIs three T20s, the first ever day-night Test against India and I think when the pregnancy was announced it was always on the cards and we have to respect the fact he wants to be there for the birth of his first child,” Hockley told SEN Sydney.

“I think as we would with one of our players, whether that’s paternity leave or maternity leave for one of our players.

“I think it’s pretty challenged (for him to return). Obviously a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

“Logistically it’s very much more complicated and being brutal it’s much harder than normal.”

Virat Kohli’s tour of Australia will be cut short by the birth of his child. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Ajinkya Rahane is set to take over from Kohli as captain after the first Test and has a massive task to lead his team home without their spiritual leader.

News Corp revealed earlier on Monday night that Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma would be staying in India to have her baby – before the BCCI made its series-altering announcement about arguably the game’s best Test batsman.

“At the selection committee meeting held on October 26th, 2020, Mr Virat Kohli had informed the BCCI about his plans to return to India after the first Test in Adelaide,” said the statement.

“The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first Test against Australia in Adelaide.”

Both India and Australian officials have been waiting with bated breath on Kohli to make his decision since he announced on social media a couple of months ago that he and his wife Anushka were expecting in January.

With no specific due date given, it was always feared he could miss the back part of the series, however, no one quite expected he would miss three of the four Tests – including the banner Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Indian team is expected to land in Australia this week but suspicions were raised when News Corp revealed Kolhi had not asked permission for his wife Anushka to be part of the extended quarantining party.

The couple have been in Dubai together during Kohli’s IPL campaign and it’s expected his wife will return to India (from Dubai) for the birth of their first child.

It put an end to the possibility the couple could go down the same path as David and Candice Warner last year, who welcomed an English-born baby in the middle of the World Cup.

And the BCCI’s announcement on Monday night put an end to the prospect that Kohli could take an old school approach like Allan Border and Ian Healy in the late 1980s early 1990s and miss the birth of his child.

Updates - India’s Tour of Australia

The All-India Senior Selection Committee met on Sunday to pick certain replacements after receiving injury reports and updates from the BCCI Medical Team.

More details here - https://t.co/8BSt2vCaXt #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Ge0x7bCRBU

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 9, 2020

Kohli has made it clear to Indian officials he wants to be there for his wife.

Indian officials believe if Kohli returns to India in early January for the birth he would be unlikely to return due to the fact he would have to spend a fortnight in quarantine.

Press reports in India on Sunday claim Indian cricket board (BCCI) sources had been encouraging Kohli to put his family first and return to India if that was his wish.

Cricket Australia hadn’t been told anything about whether Kohli may not be available for the entire series.

Australia will be greatly relieved when the Indians touch down because there remains continued uncertainty over whether border forces will permit large family groups.

Cricket Australia interim chief executive Nick Hockley said the exact arrangements with India on families was still being resolved.

Virat Kohli will leave after the first Test to be with his wife Anushka Sharma.

“We were always talking about a very limited number of families and we’re working through it,” said Hockley.

The Indians are set to catch a charter flight to Australia later this week with speculation mounting that experienced batsman Rohit Sharma may make the trip after initially being ruled out with a hamstring strain.

Even if he missed the white ball T20 and 50 over series in Sydney, Rohit would be an invaluable inclusion in the Test team because of his experience and temperament – particularly now as a replacement for Kohli.

NSW Health is happy with a limited number of Indian families making the trip, but they must adhere to the strict quarantine arrangements that NSW Health and NSW Police have signed off on.

After the 14-days quarantine, the Indian players’ families would by law be allowed to move around without restrictions, although cricket authorities will require them to stay in the team bubble.

The opening of the NSW-Victorian border on November 23 will also take the pressure off Indian families being able to travel to all States during the summer.

Australian and Indian players will all arrive on the same chartered flight, with leading IPL coach Ricky Ponting set to help train Aaron Finch’s team while they’re in quarantine.

MORE CRICKET NEWS:

Indian Premier League: Australian players rated

Jeff Thomson’s top 10 fast bowlers of all time

Australia v India: Adelaide Test squad set to include Will Pucovski

Shane Watson talks Ponting v Clarke and a career that defied many critics

Even if he missed the white ball T20 and 50 over series in Sydney, Rohit would be an invaluable inclusion in the Test team because of his experience and temperament – particularly if Kohli was to miss part of the series.

NSW Health is happy with a limited number of Indian families making the trip, but they must adhere to the strict quarantine arrangements that NSW Health and NSW Police have signed off on.

After the 14-days quarantine, the Indian players’ families would by law be allowed to move around without restrictions, although cricket authorities will require them to stay in the team bubble.

The opening of the NSW-Victorian border on November 23 will also take the pressure off Indian families being able to travel to all States during the summer.

Australian and Indian players will all arrive on the same chartered flight, with leading IPL coach Ricky Ponting set to help train Aaron Finch’s team while they’re in quarantine.