Before the start of the two-match Test series in South Africa, Virat Kohli has reportedly returned home due to a “family emergency”. He had taken prior permission from the team management and BCCI to skip the intrasquad match, which was organized to prepare the Indian team for the South African conditions. The former India captain returned to the Indian team and was seen in the training nets on Sunday as well. However, a new report has revealed that Kohli actually traveled to London during that holiday and it was not due to a family emergency.
According to News 18, BCCI and the Indian team management were aware of Kohli’s trip to London and that he would never play in the intra-squad match held in Pretoria from December 20-22.
“Virat Kohli would not have played that game. The team management was aware of his plan and schedule, and this was not something that happened overnight or due to a family emergency. Look at the player in question, it is Virat Kohli. A senior BCCI official told the website “He is very well planned when it comes to these matters, and his trip to London has been announced and planned in advance.”
Kohli had actually traveled to South Africa on December 15, and then trained with the Indian team for three days before leaving for London on December 19.
“Kohli left India for South Africa on December 15. He had 3-4 good training sessions before he went to London on December 19. In the next few days, he was in London and has now linked up with the Test team and will be working on all… Possibly in Centurion tomorrow.”
Kohli was spotted at the nets and later had a brief chat with India coach Rahul Dravid as the team had a long training session on Sunday. India will also have another practice nets on Christmas afternoon before the start of the opening Test match of the series at Centurion on Boxing Day. The Rohit Sharma-led team will play their second Test on January 3 at Newlands before holding a training camp in Cape Town starting December 31.