England skipper Ben Stokes expressed that the absence of India's star player, Virat Kohli, from the ongoing five-Test series shouldn't be categorized as either advantageous or disadvantageous for the visiting team. It's worth noting that the Indian Cricket Board has officially declared that Virat Kohli, who was absent for the initial two Tests, will continue to be unavailable for the subsequent three Tests against England due to personal commitments. Kohli’s nonattendance from the team is attributed to personal grounds, prompting his exclusion from the roster.
The Indian Cricket Board has honored his request for time off and has urged the media and supporters to respect his privacy during this phase. While the specifics of his circumstances remain undisclosed, it's evident that they demand his full focus. As the Indian squad adapts to this alteration, prospective stand-ins such as Rajat Patidar or Sarfaraz Khan might be contemplated to fill the vacancy created by Kohli. The roster also comprises other pivotal players like KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, though their involvement is uncertain due to injuries.
"I don't mean to say anything disrespectful to the question. I think when it's situations like these, when someone is missing a big series and a lot of cricket due to personal reasons, which we are not sure of, we shouldn't label that as positive or negative to our team," Stokes told in a video posted by the ECB.
Virat Kohli on the cricket field is something that everybody wants to see: Ben Stokes
Acknowledging Kohli's absence as a loss for cricket overall, Stokes extended his good wishes to Kohli, recognizing the presence of a player like him on the cricket field as a spectacle cherished by all enthusiasts. Stokes led England to a thrilling 28-run victory over India in the first Test of the series, bouncing back from a 190-run first-innings deficit. However, Rohit Sharma's India leveled the series 1-1 as England fell short of the 399-run target in the fourth innings of the Visakhapatnam Test. With the series now tied at 1-1, the third Test commences in Rajkot on February 15.
"We should just let it be. It's a broader loss for cricket. I wish Virat whatever he is going through all the best, I wish he comes through it. Virat Kohli, on a cricket field, is something that everybody wants to see," Stokes added.
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'I don't mean to say anything disrespectful..' - Ben Stokes comments on Virat Kohli's absence from remainder of the series
England skipper Ben Stokes expressed that the absence of India's star player, Virat Kohli, from the ongoing five-Test series shouldn't be categorized as either advantageous or disadvantageous for the visiting team.
Ben Stokes and Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)
England skipper Ben Stokes expressed that the absence of India's star player, Virat Kohli, from the ongoing five-Test series shouldn't be categorized as either advantageous or disadvantageous for the visiting team. It's worth noting that the Indian Cricket Board has officially declared that Virat Kohli, who was absent for the initial two Tests, will continue to be unavailable for the subsequent three Tests against England due to personal commitments. Kohli’s nonattendance from the team is attributed to personal grounds, prompting his exclusion from the roster.
The Indian Cricket Board has honored his request for time off and has urged the media and supporters to respect his privacy during this phase. While the specifics of his circumstances remain undisclosed, it's evident that they demand his full focus. As the Indian squad adapts to this alteration, prospective stand-ins such as Rajat Patidar or Sarfaraz Khan might be contemplated to fill the vacancy created by Kohli. The roster also comprises other pivotal players like KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, though their involvement is uncertain due to injuries.
"I don't mean to say anything disrespectful to the question. I think when it's situations like these, when someone is missing a big series and a lot of cricket due to personal reasons, which we are not sure of, we shouldn't label that as positive or negative to our team," Stokes told in a video posted by the ECB.
Virat Kohli on the cricket field is something that everybody wants to see: Ben Stokes
Acknowledging Kohli's absence as a loss for cricket overall, Stokes extended his good wishes to Kohli, recognizing the presence of a player like him on the cricket field as a spectacle cherished by all enthusiasts. Stokes led England to a thrilling 28-run victory over India in the first Test of the series, bouncing back from a 190-run first-innings deficit. However, Rohit Sharma's India leveled the series 1-1 as England fell short of the 399-run target in the fourth innings of the Visakhapatnam Test. With the series now tied at 1-1, the third Test commences in Rajkot on February 15.
"We should just let it be. It's a broader loss for cricket. I wish Virat whatever he is going through all the best, I wish he comes through it. Virat Kohli, on a cricket field, is something that everybody wants to see," Stokes added.