Kohli to miss more action

Likely to sit out of next two Tests due to ‘personal reasons’, also doubtful for final game

New Delhi: India’s star batsman Virat Kohli is likely to miss the third and fourth Tests against England due to personal reasons, which also kept him out of the fir, a PTI report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says

Kohli may not play the final Test of the series in Dharamsala (from March 7 to 11) too but the board isn’t looking that far ahead as that particular match is still a month away.

The third Test will be held in Rajkot from February 15 to 19, while the fourth game is in Ranchi from February 23 to 27.

Last week, it was reported that there is no clarity on Kohli’s participation in the series and he will only be picked if he is in a position to play.

Recently Kohli’s close friend and former South African skipper AB de Villiers had revealed on his YouTube show that the Indian batting ace is missing action due to the impending arrival of his second child.

“The BCCI has time and again made it clear that when it comes to family matters, it stands firmly behind the cricketer and it will be Virat’s call when he is ready to make a comeback. As of now, it looks unlikely that he will play in the series,” a BCCI source said.

Bumrah’s workload

The other big question has been Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management after the team’s bowling spearhead sent down 33 overs for a match-winning haul of nine wickets in the second Test.

It is understood that the third Test’s result could go a long way in deciding the course of the series which would make it difficult to rest Bumrah in the Rajkot game.

Among the imminent comebacks, KL Rahul is likely to return to the playing XI and Rajat Patidar will then have to sit out as Shreyas Iyer, after his tremendous work in the field including a superb run out of Ben Stokes in Visakhapatnam, will get another go.

Bumrah reaches No. 1 in Test rankings

Jasprit Bumrah has become the first Indian pacer to top the ICC Test rankings. The 30-year-old’s nine-wicket match haul has helped him leapfrog Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada and Ravichandran Ashwin, making him only the fourth from his country to attain the top position. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Bishan Singh Bedi are the other Indians who have been at the top of the charts. pti

De Villiers praises Bumrah, Shubman

South Africa batting great AB de Villiers has heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah for simply “out-bowling” his colleagues in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam to help India level the five-match series.

Bumrah’s performance has enabled him to jump to the top of the ICC Test rankings for bowlers, becoming the first Indian pacer to achieve the feat. “

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