Kohli decision a body blow for CA’s marquee series

Australia’s $300 million Test summer against India has been dealt a colossal hammer blow by superstar Virat Kohli.

Virat Kolhi and his wife Anushka Sharma at the SCG during India’s last Test tour of Australia in 2019 Picture: AFP

Australia’s $300 million Test summer against India has been dealt a colossal hammer blow, with superstar Virat Kohli to return home for the birth of his baby after the first Test.

Indian cricket released a bombshell statement late on Monday night advising that Kohli will fly back to India after the first Test in Adelaide for “paternity leave”, in a move which has effectively ruled him out for the rest of the series.

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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.

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.

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.”

The Courier-Mail