Picture Credit: Twitter/@BCCI
In the latest update on Saturday morning, it was learned that India's former skipper Virat Kohli has been given a bio-bubble break by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This means that the cricketer will not take any further part in the ongoing T2oI series against West Indies. Kohli will return to his home before the third T20I which is scheduled to be played on Sunday.
According to a PTI report, Kohli has been given a 10-day break by the BCCI ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka. The Indian batting stalwart won't be taking part in the three T20Is against Sri Lanka starting from February 24 in Lucknow. The other two T20Is will be played on 26 and 27 February in Dharamshala.
“Yes, Kohli has left home on Saturday morning as India have already won the series. As it has been decided by BCCI, it will be a policy to give all the regular all-format players periodic breaks from the bubble to ensure that their workload management and mental health is taken care of,” a senior BCCI official privy to the development told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Notably, Kohli has been a regular in India's playing XI. With a Test series on the line against Sri Lanka, this break will work as a refreshment for the former Indian skipper.
Rishabh Pant also to miss Sri Lanka series
Apart from Kohli, it is being learned that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will also be missing the 3 T20Is against Sri Lanka. According to SportsTak, both Kohli and Pant have been given a bio-bubble break. Rishabh Pant has also been playing in all three formats for India on a regular basis. He was part of the playing XI in the three Tests as well as three ODIs against South Africa. Then he played the 3 ODIs and the first two T20Is against West Indies.
After winning the Player of the Match award in the second T20I on Friday, Pant was asked about how it feels to play every game and to be in the bio-bubble; to which he had replied "It is never easy to play every game, but this is what I have always wanted to do. I always enjoy what I do". Indian have already won the T20I series and Rohit Sharma will now look to test the bench strength in the last game.