Ind vs Eng – Virat Kohli to skip first two Tests against England for ‘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 said in a statement.

Kohli reached Hyderabad on Sunday, but did not attend India’s optional training session on Monday.

Kohli played India’s last Test series – the drawn series in South Africa – and then missed the first T20I at home against Afghanistan for personal reasons before returning for the last two matches of the series.

While Kohli was rested for the white-ball games in South Africa, he had returned to India for personal reasons, missing the preparatory three-day intra-squad match ahead of the two Tests there.

Pujara last played for India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final last year, but started this year’s Ranji Trophy with an unbeaten double-century against Jharkhand before hitting three scores in the forties and a half-century in his next two games.

Patidar and Sarfaraz both played and impressed for India A against the touring England Lions. Patidar blazed centuries in both the tour game against them and the first unofficial Test, while Sarfaraz managed half-centuries in both games, including 96 in the tour game.

Abhimanyu had replaced the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad as India’s reserve opener for the Tests in South Africa and is currently captaining India A.