Virat Kohli to be rested for last two ODIs and T20I series against New Zealand

Kohli, who had an exceptional 2018, was picked in both the ODI and Test teams of the year along with the Player of the Year in the two formats. After the England tour where he seemed to suffer from a back injury, the Indian skipper was rested for the Asia Cup, which India won by beating Bangladesh in the final. 

With an eye on the World Cup and the preceding Indian Premier League, the BCCI has decided to let the Indian skipper have some much-deserved rest as a result of which he will be rested for the final part of the New Zealand tour. 

“India Captain Virat Kohli will be rested for the fourth and fifth ODI against New Zealand and the subsequent T20I series. Considering his workload in the last few months, the team management and Senior selection committee is of the view that it would be ideal for him to get adequate rest ahead of the home series against Australia,” the BCCI announced in a press release. 

Having called up Vijay Shankar and Shubman Gill to the squad for the New Zealand tour after KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya were recalled due to disciplinary issues, the BCCI has decided against calling up a replacement for the skipper. The role of the skipper will fall into the hands of Rohit Sharma, who had led the team to victory in the 2018 Asia Cup.

“There will be no replacement for Mr. Kohli in the squad for the New Zealand series. Rohit Sharma will captain the side in the final two ODIs and T20I series,” the press release concluded.