Indian Captain & Agarkar after the 2nd Test (x.com)
After a thrilling victory for India in Vizag, India have levelled the series, and all eyes are on the return of Virat Kohli for the upcoming matches. Kohli, who withdrew from the first two Tests citing personal reasons, remains a crucial factor in India's lineup. Speculations regarding his availability are rife, with neither confirmation nor denial from the cricket board.
India's captain, Rohit Sharma, engaged in a lengthy discussion with Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar post the second Test, possibly deliberating over the squad selection for the remaining matches. With the third Test looming nine days away, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is anticipated to announce the squad shortly.
Watch long discussion between Rohit & Ajit Agarkar here:
Apart from Kohli, discussions revolve around the return of Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul, who sustained injuries post the series opener. Jadeja's hamstring injury seems to require more time for recovery, raising doubts about his participation in the latter half of the series. Meanwhile, Rahul's absence in the second Test was a precautionary measure due to quadriceps pain, and his return remains uncertain.
Mohammed Siraj, who was rested for the second Test to manage workload, is likely to make a comeback. However, questions linger over the retention of underperformers KS Bharat and Shreyas Iyer in the squad.
The absence of Kohli has been attributed to personal reasons, with speculations fueled by a statement from his close friend, AB de Villiers, suggesting that Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma are expecting their second child. Nonetheless, the celebrity couple is yet to confirm the news, adding to the intrigue surrounding Kohli's return.
Looking ahead the third test match is scheduled to take place at Rajkot on February 15th, adding to the anticipation among cricket fans.
 "Sumit Gupta")
