Virat Kohli se perderá el partido del Trofeo Ranji en Delhi el 23 de enero, y el BCCI citó como motivo una lesión en el cuello.

Virat Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his unavailability for the next round of the Ranji Trophy. Added to Delhi’s squad for the second leg, Kohli, who had injured himself in the neck during the Sydney Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has told the BCCI medical staff that he’s yet to recover, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Injury forces Virat Kohli to opt out

Having suffered a neck strain, Kohli had also taken some injections for the same on January 8, three days after the match in Sydney ended. 10 days later, the niggle continues to trouble the batter. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) weren’t sure of his availability and therefore added him to the squad, but for at least the Saurashtra match in Rajkot, Kohli won’t be available.

BCCI’s new policy

Just two days ago, the BCCI released a 10-point guidelines policy in which it was clearly stated that playing domestic cricket “is mandatory for players to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts.” To not feature, the BCCI would require some medical proof of injury. That’s exactly why Kohli has informed the BCCI medical staff about his injury.

KL Rahul to miss Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy match against Punjab

Just like Kohli, KL Rahul also has an injury. An elbow niggle means that the batter from Karnataka won’t feature against Punjab at his home, Bengaluru. Although Rahul played domestic cricket as recently as last September (the Duleep Trophy), he hasn’t played in the Ranji Trophy since March 2020.

No Ranji Trophy for Virat Kohli or KL Rahul?

Given the final round of the Ranji Trophy will end (from January 30 to February 2) close to the India vs. England ODI series, which starts on February 6, the chances of either Kohli or Rahul playing red-ball cricket this season seem unlikely. Both will be a part of the India cricket team’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, and taking a risk on their fitness so close to the event won’t be something that BCCI would like to do.