Key points:
- After leading the side during the first Test, which is a day-night affair, Captain Kohli will travel back home for the arrival of his first child.
- He has a chance, he’s going there, and I think he’s going to be happy about it,’ Shastri told ABC Sport.
- There’s a lot of youngsters on the side, and that’s a chance for them,’ he stated.
- If someone has to play in the test series, as I said, he has to be on the flight for the next four to five days.
As Team India gears up for the Down Under series, which starts in Sydney on November 27, the absence of Virat Kohli in the last three Tests against Australia is possibly the major talking point.
A 3-match ODI series proceeded by as many T20Is will first be played by India. Since then the 4-match Test series, that will commence in Adelaide on December 17.
Kholi travel back to India:
After leading the side during the first Test, which is a day-night affair, Captain Kohli will travel back home for the arrival of his first child.
Although several experts criticized Kohli’s return to the Test series, head coach Ravi Shastri welcomed the decision of the captain to return for the birth of his first child.
Ravi Shastri to ABC sports:
“I think it’s the right decision for him to make. Time and again, these times don’t come. He has a chance, he’s going there, and I think he’s going to be happy about it,’ Shastri told ABC Sport.
Shastri accepted that over the years, the Indian captain had been the “driving force” behind the performance of the team. He affirmed, however, that Kohli’s absence would build the ‘young guys’ chance.
If you see where India has gone over the last five-six years, there is no doubt in the mind of anyone at all that it is the guiding force and the person behind it the performance of India). So, clearly, he would be missed.
But as I say, opportunity comes with hardship. There’s a lot of youngsters on the side, and that’s a chance for them,’ he stated.
Shastri on Ishant Sharma:
Shastri also shared his concerns regarding the inclusion of senior Ishant Sharma in the upcoming Test series if over the next few days he does not meet Australia.
During the IPL 2020, Ishant suffered a side strain and is currently undergoing recovery at the NCA. The BCCI, though, has yet to declare that it will hit Australia.
Given the required 14-day quarantine requirement, it is obvious that if he doesn’t leave by Monday, he is likely to skip the first warm-up game against Australia A, at Drummoyne Oval between December 6-8.
You just don’t know how soon he’s going to be available to fly out. If someone has to play in the test series, as I said, he has to be on the flight for the next four to five days. Otherwise, it would be quite complicated,’ Shastri added.
