The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Monday, revealing that Virat Kohli, the prominent batsman, has decided to opt out of the initial two Test matches against England due to personal reasons. In their official statement, BCCI conveyed that Kohli discussed his absence with Captain Rohit Sharma and the team management, who extended their full support to him. 

The statement highlighted Kohli’s request to be excused from the first two Tests in the upcoming series against England, citing personal reasons.

The communication further explained that Kohli, while always prioritizing representing the country, emphasized that certain personal situations require his undivided attention and presence.  

It was noted that Kohli had already missed the first T20I match against Afghanistan due to similar ‘personal reasons’ and a previous intra-squad match in South Africa, as he had to fly to London.

The BCCI statement urged the media not to indulge in speculative discussions regarding the nature of Kohli’s reasons. Furthermore, it assured that the replacement for Kohli would be disclosed in the coming days. The BCCI, in expressing respect for Kohli’s decision, asserted confidence in the abilities of the remaining squad members to step up and deliver commendable performances in the Test series.

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There was also a specific request in the statement for the media and fans to respect Virat Kohli‘s privacy during this period and refrain from speculation on the nature of his reasons. The concluding remarks emphasized maintaining the focus on supporting the Indian cricket team as they prepare to face the upcoming challenges in the Test series.