IND vs AUS: Credit to Virat Kohli For Wanting to be Home For The Birth of His First Child Says, Steve Smith
Star batsman Steve Smith said Virat Kohli's unavailability will be a big loss for India in the last 3 Tests but backed the India captain's decision to head home on paternity leave after the day-night Test in Adelaide.
Australia star batsman Steve Smith hailed Indian skipper Virat Kohli for his decision of heading back to India after playing the first Test in Adelaide, to be with his wife Anushka Sharma who is going to give birth to their first child in January. He pointed out that the India captain also has a life outside cricket.
At the same time, he also said that Virat Kohli’s absence in the last 3 Tests of the 4-Match series will be a big blow for the visiting side.
Virat Kohli will head back to India after playing the first Test, starting from December 17 in Adelaide. He has already taken a paternity leave from BCCI.
“No doubt, it’s a big loss for India. Virat is a world-class player. I think you got to give him some credit, we all know how much he loves playing in Australia. But he is also a human being. He has got a life outside of cricket, a family that is starting,” Smith told the press on Thursday.
“Credit to him for wanting to be there for the birth of his first child. We know how much he loves playing in Australia, how good he is, but as I said, credit should go to him for wanting to be there.”
Virat Kohli led side lost the ODI series 2-1 but stormed back to register a 2-1 win in the recently-concluded T20I series.
It remains to be seen whether Kohli will lead India in the upcoming 3-day pink-ball practice match, starting December 11 against Australia A in Sydney.
In Virat Kohli’s absence, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team India in the last 3-Tests. Rahane is in a fabulous form as he scored an unbeaten hundred in the first practice game at the Drummoyne Oval in Sydney earlier this week.
Ishant Sharma, Probably a Big Loss For India: Steve Smith
Steve Smith, further speaking on the bowling attack of the visiting side, said that Ishant Sharma’s absence will surely impact the bowling attack of Team India. Notably, Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the Test series after sustaining a side strain in the just-concluded Indian Premier League.
“Ishant Sharma is probably a big loss for them at the start if he’s not available… He’s obviously played a lot of cricket. Maybe without him, it may not be the strongest. I’m sure they would like him to play,” Smith said.
