Soon-to-be dad Kohli to return home after Adelaide test

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli - Reuters

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India captain Virat Kohli will return home from Australia after the opening test in Adelaide next month to attend the birth of his child, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Monday.

Kohli’s deputy Ajinkya Rahane will lead India in the final three tests of the tour which begins in Sydney on 27 Nov. with first of the six short-form internationals.

At the Oct. 26 selection committee meeting, Kohli informed the BCCI of his plans to return home after the day-night test in Adelaide from 17 Dec., board secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

 “The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first test against Australia in Adelaide,” Shah said.

Kohli’s actress wife Anushka Sharma is pregnant with their first child.

Under Kohli, India registered their maiden test series victory in Australia last year.

The BCCI announced several changes to the touring party after several players sustained injuries in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

Opener Rohit Sharma has been added to the test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after initially being left out of the touring party because of a hamstring niggle.

Quick Ishant Sharma, who was also omitted initially because of a muscle tear, would be added to the test squad should he recover in time.

The Indian board confirmed test wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha has injured both his hamstrings in the IPL and a call on his availability will be taken later.

Rishabh Pant is the other wicket-keeper in India’s test squad.

Sanju Samson has joined the one-day team as an additional wicketkeeper, while quick T Natarajan replaced spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who sustained a shoulder injury, in the Twenty20 side.