Virat Kohli likely to be rested for the historic Test against Afghanistan

Team India is all set to host the Afghanistan team in the latter’s first-ever Test match. The reports have confirmed that the match will be played in Bengaluru later this year, in the month of June. And now, the reports have surfaced the Indian skipper Virat Kohli give the game a miss. The BCCI is reportedly considering fielding a second string side for this historic Test match against Afghanistan.

As per the recent reports in TOI, the board is keeping in mind that the Indian team has big assignments in the 2018-19 season, and hence, resting their star players seem to be the way ahead. Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, is likely to be rested as a part of the same thought process of the board. If this happens, then it is surely going to disappoint the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the cricket fans as well.

Afghanistan were granted the Test status last year by the ICC. Ireland was the other beneficiary to have been granted the Test status. Interestingly, Ireland will also be playing their first ever Test match this year in the month of May against team Pakistan. They are sure to face off against a very strong Pakistani lineup in the match.

India’s tour of Ireland, England

Coming back to the Indian team, they are scheduled to tour Ireland soon after the conclusion of the Test against Afghanistan. Virat Kohli will be seen leading the team to the much hyped tour of England. Prior to that, the team will play two T20Is against Ireland in Ireland. The tour of England promises to be a big affair given the fact that the Indian has had two very dismal tours to England in the recent past.

When the Indian team toured England for the Test series in the 2014 season, they were led by MS Dhoni. Team India had managed to win one game, and drew the other before losing three Tests in a row. Prior to that series, they had toured England in the 2011-12 season. It was an ever more disappointing outing for the Indian side as they were whitewashed by the English team back then. On the personal front, during the tour of 2014, Virat Kohli scored just 134 runs in 5 Tests at an average of just 13.40.

For the latest cricket news, follow CricTracker.