Virat Kohli opens up on taking paternity leave from Australia tour

Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, won’t be a part of the national team’s setup after the opening Test in Adelaide, starting December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. The 32-year-old won’t be playing the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane Test as he has taken paternity leave to be with his pregnant wife Anushka Sharma, who’s due to give birth to their first child in January.

A number of experts, thereafter, have had their opinions on the development. Former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev and Australia head coach Justin Langer lauded the Delhi-born for deciding to be with his wife. Now, Virat, before India’s opening ODI in Sydney, also opened up on the issue.

I wanted to be back home in time, says Virat Kohli

Virat stated that he took the decision bearing in mind the strict quarantine protocols in India and Australia. Back in August, Kohli and Anushka spilt the beans on the latter’s pregnancy. The Indian captain also had a chat with the selectors before zeroing in on the decision to take the leave.

“The decision was made before we had the selection meeting and I explained the same to selectors that I will be flying back after the first Test. It was purely based on the fact that because we have a quarantine period both ways. I wanted to be back home in time to be with my wife for the birth of my first child,” Kohli was quoted as saying on the eve of the first ODI.

“It is a very, very special and very, very beautiful moment that I want to experience. That was the reason behind my decision and I communicated to the selectors during the selection meeting,” he added, speaking on a virtual press conference.

Virat’s role, at the present point in time, would be to guide the Men in Blue to victories in the ODI and T20I series. In the Test series, apart from Virat, India won’t be having the services of Ishant Sharma, who’s been ruled out.

The BCCI would also be taking a call on Rohit Sharma on December 11. The 33-year-old would be missing the first two Tests. Both Ishant and Rohit are busy undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru.