Virat Kohli‘s brother, Vikas Kohli, has put out a statement on social media dismissing rumours about their mother’s ill health as the reason for his absence from the Test squad.
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Kohli pulled out of the first two Tests of the ongoing India-England Test series citing personal reasons days before the start of the first Test in Hyderabad. BCCI had released a statement asking for his privacy to be respected and not to speculate the nature of the personal reasons for which Kohli had requested for a break.
However, there were rumours floating around that Kohli had asked for a leave due to his mother’s worsening health condition, with social media slowly filling with comments and wishes for her quick recovery.
Kohli’s brother, Vikas Kohli, took to Instagram today (January 31), to dismiss all those rumours as “fake news”.
His Instagram story said: “Hello everyone, I have noticed that there is this fake news about our mom’s health been circulating around. Let me clear that our mom is absolutely fit and fine. Also I would request everyone and also the media, not to spread such news without proper information.”
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Kohli last missed a Test match in January 2022 against South Africa due to an injury, while the last home Test he missed came in November 2021 against New Zealand.
There is no certainty yet on the status of his availability for the remainder of the ongoing five-match series against England. The second Test starts in Vizag on February 2, following which there will be an extended break before the third Test, which will be played in Rajkot from February 15.
India’s squad for the last three Tests is yet to be announced.
