Virat Kohli, the India skipper, will be rested for the fourth and fifth one-day internationals as well as the Twenty20 international series against New Zealand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on Wednesday, 23 January.
Vice-captain Rohit Sharma will lead the side in Kohli’s stead for the aforementioned fixtures.
“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,” said the BCCI in a statement.
“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.”
Kohli made a fluent 45 against the Blackcaps in the first ODI, which India won comfortably by eight wickets. The 30-year-old plays for and leads India in all three formats of the game, which is probably why the BCCI have decided to rest him ahead of a busy summer that includes Australia’s tour of India, the IPL and of course, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.
Kohli will play in the second and third ODIs against New Zealand, which will be played in Mount Maunganui on 26 January and 28 January respectively.
