Mumbai: With wife Anushka Sharma’s delivery due in January, daddy-in-waiting Virat Kohli may skip the last two Tests against Australia.
There’s no official word yet, but a BCCI source told PTI that the Team India captain is likely to ask for paternity leave after the first two Test matches of the highly-anticipated series, which starts on December 17.
Kohli and his actress-wife Anushka are expecting their first child in early January.
“The BCCI has always believed that family is priority. In case, the skipper decides on availing paternity break, he will then be available only for the first two Test matches,” the source said.
Adelaide will host the first Test, a day/night affair, from December 17-21, while the second Test will be held in Melbourne from December 26-30. The last two matches of the series are scheduled in Sydney (January 7-11, 2021) and Brisbane (January 15-19).
Under normal circumstances, Kohli could have missed one Test and flown back for the final one. But with the 14-day quarantine norm likely to be effective even then, it may not be possible for the Team India captain to return to Australia and play again, the source pointed out.
India’s tour of Australia will start with the first of three ODIs on November 27, followed by three T20 Internationals and then the four Tests.
Members of India’s limited-overs teams who were involved in the IPL will fly to Australia directly from the UAE after the tournament ends next week.
